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Book Review
Apr. 4th, 2025 10:32 amPalace of Desire
by Naguib Mahfouz
This is the second novel in the Cairo Trilogy. It picks up about 5-6 years after the end of Palace Walk. All except the youngest child, Kamal, are grown and have left the family house. The focus is still on everyday life as the family grows and changes, with the backdrop of political and societal change.
The family is becoming more diffuse as the children acquire independence and start families of their own. In addition, the tragic death of the middle son, Fahmy, has changed them all. Ahmad, the patriarch, is slowing down due to a couple of health crises. He has mellowed somewhat towards his family, and while he is still autocratic and repressive, his hold over them has weakened. Amina remains a devoted wife and mother, but has broken out of her submissive role even as age starts to diminish her. Yasin, the eldest son, has proven to be the master of bad decisions when it comes to his relationships with women. for example, during his engagement to his second wife, he has an affair with her mother. Khadija and Aisha are raising their own families and have slid into the background. Kamal has grown into an idealistic student, caught in the grip of an intense yet unrequited love for his best friend's sister.
Palace of Desire is very much a middle novel of a trilogy, in that the story continues but very little comes to a climax or is resolved. Still, it was an engaging read, kind of like catching up with old friends or distant relatives.
by Naguib Mahfouz
This is the second novel in the Cairo Trilogy. It picks up about 5-6 years after the end of Palace Walk. All except the youngest child, Kamal, are grown and have left the family house. The focus is still on everyday life as the family grows and changes, with the backdrop of political and societal change.
The family is becoming more diffuse as the children acquire independence and start families of their own. In addition, the tragic death of the middle son, Fahmy, has changed them all. Ahmad, the patriarch, is slowing down due to a couple of health crises. He has mellowed somewhat towards his family, and while he is still autocratic and repressive, his hold over them has weakened. Amina remains a devoted wife and mother, but has broken out of her submissive role even as age starts to diminish her. Yasin, the eldest son, has proven to be the master of bad decisions when it comes to his relationships with women. for example, during his engagement to his second wife, he has an affair with her mother. Khadija and Aisha are raising their own families and have slid into the background. Kamal has grown into an idealistic student, caught in the grip of an intense yet unrequited love for his best friend's sister.
Palace of Desire is very much a middle novel of a trilogy, in that the story continues but very little comes to a climax or is resolved. Still, it was an engaging read, kind of like catching up with old friends or distant relatives.
