Book Beginnings

Hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages.

"Before the crimson rays of dawn touched the treetops, before the crow of the cock, the bark of the dog, or the bray of a donkey pierced through the heavy darkness, or the voice of Sheikh Hamzawi echoed in the silence with the first call to prayer, the big wooden door opened slowly, creaking, with the rusty sound of an ancient waterwheel."

God Dies by the Nile by Nawal El Saadawi (1974) Egypt, pb,138 pages, translated from the Arabic

I really liked this opening, just my cup of tea for a novel's writing style. I have to believe that I will enjoy this book. I own three others by this author, including two non fiction books about her experiences as a medical doctor and as a prisoner in Egypt. I've liked everything I read by her and can recommend them highly.

Twenty years ago when my budget was bigger her books were very difficult to find in English. I must thank Christina at The Blue Bookcase who generously sent me God Dies by the Nile after my comments on her review of it here. She read it as the June selection for A Year of Feminist Classics.

Leave links if you've reviewed this author, I'd love to read them. Have you read any good fiction of modern Egyptian authors or settings?