People who have read Naghib Mahfouz: a question about his Cairo Trilogy

[InternalDialogue]

Is it what you would consider digestible, flowing, engrossing, inviting?

I ask because I'm about to start in on a new book this week, and I decided to get back to some meatier writing. I have the PV translation of Brothers Karamazov, which I would love to read after trying with the Constance Garnett translation twice. But I know it will still be Dostoyevsky and it will still require effort.

On the other hand, I've been eager to read Mahfouz after his death late last year (?) and reading a bit about his life and bibliography.

After the last few books I've read, I'm out of practice for more serious literature, and I kind of want to put the "easier" book first.

Opinions?

[abluelady]

1. Read Them Over Ten Years Ago

and couldn't put them down. Definitely digestible!

[spindrifter]

2. Great reading!

This is well worth your time.

[uppityperson]

3. They are very readable, was easier than Karamozov, and enjoyable

enjoyable to read that is, not hard work. I missed his death, that is too bad.

[InternalDialogue]

4. And I missed the date in my OP

It was the end of 2006. Thanks for the opinion. I believe I'm going to open Cairo Walk first starting this weekend.

[closeupready]

5. Oh, no, did he pass away? I did not know that. The first volume is

marvelous, really just a joy to read. The second was harder to get involved in, for whatever reason. So I never carried on to the third, though I have it here - I should reread it, in light of news of his passing. He wrote some other really marvelous books, as well.

I would say that his writing is definitely engrossing, in part because he draws his characters' personalities so well. Enjoy. :hi:

[InternalDialogue]

6. Thank you for the opinion.

I have the book on my side table now, waiting until I finish the last pages of the one I'm working on. I opened Cairo Walk last night just to sample a few pages and tease myself, and I noticed how my random sampled pages from the book seemed to focus entirely on characters and dialog. I'm really looking forward to it now.

:hi:

[closeupready]

7. Only warning would be you will be so sad when it comes to an end!

:)