-by Lucette Lagnado
Yes, it's another book with Arabic undertones! In this memoir, the author (also a reporter for Wall Street Journal) recounts her and her family's transition as an upper middle class Jewish family in Cairo during WWII to being refugees struggling to re-establish themselves in New York in the 1960-70's. It was fascinating to read about Cairo in those times, to see that it was an incredibly cosmopolitan and almost glamorous city marked by apparent European and British influences. Perhaps more intriguing was to learn how harmoniously muslims, Jews and Christians seemed to have lived in Cairo before the Nasser regime forced most of the Jewish population to leave unwillingly.
Yes, it's another book with Arabic undertones! In this memoir, the author (also a reporter for Wall Street Journal) recounts her and her family's transition as an upper middle class Jewish family in Cairo during WWII to being refugees struggling to re-establish themselves in New York in the 1960-70's. It was fascinating to read about Cairo in those times, to see that it was an incredibly cosmopolitan and almost glamorous city marked by apparent European and British influences. Perhaps more intriguing was to learn how harmoniously muslims, Jews and Christians seemed to have lived in Cairo before the Nasser regime forced most of the Jewish population to leave unwillingly.
The story is driven by the patriarch, the author's father. Through him you can feel the family's downfall after fleeing Cairo in the 60's. In his beloved Cairo he was that guy that women wanted and men wanted to be. He was intelligent, speaking Arabic, Hebrew, French and English, and just as street smart. His nights were spent hopping from bar to cafe to night club to lounge, all the while consorting with British officers and whatever beautiful woman walked in his path. Yet he was as deeply religious as he was social. His faith was the only constant in his life, and was the only thing he truly knew and owned in the years after leaving Cairo.
What is most striking is the family's struggle as refugees. It was heartbreaking to see their lives unravel, and eye-opening to see a different perspective of a refugee situation. It's quite different than an immigrant coming to this country to start a new life; these people left their home out of fear and hopelessness with no desire to start their lives all over again. You can argue that they didn't make much effort to assimilate. But how can you ask a person to give up his identity and culture when he has just been chased out of his own country?
The writing is quite elementary which was annoying, to be honest. Regardless, I did enjoy it and it's inspired me to want to help Iraqi refugees both here and abroad. If you'd like to borrow it, let me know! -->just kidding. It's packed away somewhere deep in my storage unit. Sorry!
What is most striking is the family's struggle as refugees. It was heartbreaking to see their lives unravel, and eye-opening to see a different perspective of a refugee situation. It's quite different than an immigrant coming to this country to start a new life; these people left their home out of fear and hopelessness with no desire to start their lives all over again. You can argue that they didn't make much effort to assimilate. But how can you ask a person to give up his identity and culture when he has just been chased out of his own country?
The writing is quite elementary which was annoying, to be honest. Regardless, I did enjoy it and it's inspired me to want to help Iraqi refugees both here and abroad. If you'd like to borrow it, let me know! -->just kidding. It's packed away somewhere deep in my storage unit. Sorry!
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