If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English

by Noor Naga (2022)

Check it out on Goodreads

After my long war with War & Peace, I was hesitant on what to pick up next. I chose If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English purely because there was no description on the back cover. I let the modern language and exploration of a foreign city wash over me, and I couldn't have been happier. Maybe it was the freedom from War & Peace that caused this book to affect me so deeply, but I was truly blown away.

To save for you the same joy I experienced going into this novel with no expectations or context, I am not going to tell you what it is about. Take the risk, give your time to something unknown, and dive into a story that isn't pitched for you on the back of the book. This book markets itself by word of mouth; I passed it to my sister, who adored it enough to push it on my father, who rarely reads but couldn't stand not knowing what she and I were talking about.

What I will tell you is that this is one of those novels in which the ending completely recontextualizes everything you read before in a way that really works for some (me) and perhaps really doesn't for others. I found the stylistic change in Part 3 to be breathtaking in the way it decimates the story you just read down to its barest parts. If that sounds exciting to you, or if going in blind isn't something you'd normally do, I highly recommend you try this book.

Check out my Goodreads to see what I've read and what I'm reading now. You can also find me on Fable! As always, let me know what you think in the comments, whether you've read If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English or not. I encourage you to read something that takes place in a country and/or culture different from yours. Happy reading!

★★★★★

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga (2022)

-Cheyenne