Book Review: The Yacoubian Building

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Finished Reading: 1st February 2025

Alaa Al Aswany’s The Yacoubian Building is a captivating exploration of contemporary Egyptian society, told through the intertwined lives of the building’s diverse residents. While the novel ambitiously tackles significant societal issues, it often falters in execution, leaving the reader with a mix of admiration and frustration.

The novel’s strength lies in its premise: the juxtaposition of coexisting yet vastly different lives within a single iconic building. Al Aswany uses this setting to highlight societal hierarchies and explore themes such as corruption, oppression, and the pursuit of power. The concept is undeniably brilliant, and its adaptation into film captured its potential with great finesse. However, as a literary work, the book misses the opportunity to go deeper into the layers of complexity that the subject matter demands. Instead of nuanced characters, we often encounter society’s stereotypes, which, while representative, lack the depth to make them truly compelling.

One of the most frustrating aspects of the novel is its treatment of certain subplots, particularly Hatim and Abdallah’s story. While Al Aswany deserves credit for including a narrative about gay identity in Egypt, his apparent discomfort with the subject is evident throughout the writing. The descriptions feel awkward and sometimes cringeworthy, betraying a lack of understanding and sensitivity. Although it is tempting to blame the translation for some of the awkwardness, the issue seems deeper, rooted in the author’s approach to the topic.

The characters’ arcs, though initially engaging, often feel rushed or forced in their resolutions. For instance, the ending of Busayna’s story, while tied neatly to the theme of societal constraints, feels reductive. Similarly, the relationship between Abduh and Hatim collapses under clichéd and poorly developed character motivations, detracting from the emotional resonance it might have had.

The novel also suffers from a tendency to moralise. Instead of presenting fully realised, multidimensional personalities, the characters are often reduced to symbolic representations of societal flaws. This limits the reader’s ability to empathise with them on a human level and detracts from the potential of the novel to offer a deeper critique of Egyptian society.

Despite these shortcomings, The Yacoubian Building succeeds in pushing boundaries. Al Aswany boldly addresses issues that are often taboo in Egyptian literature, from political corruption to sexual repression. While his handling of these subjects may lack finesse, the courage to confront them deserves recognition. The novel provides an important, if imperfect, window into the complexities of a society in transition.

The Yacoubian Building is a novel of great ambition but inconsistent execution. Al Aswany’s portrayal of the starkly different lives coexisting within a single building is compelling in its intent but falls short in depth and nuance. For readers seeking an introduction to the challenges and contradictions of modern Egyptian society, it is a worthwhile read. However, one cannot help but wish for a more layered and empathetic treatment of its many themes.