Cairo Modern by Naguib Mahfouz

Cairo modern

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“Tuzz" is a particularly strong and low class way of saying "I don't care" 

4 youth at the different spectrum of ideals, religion, philosophy and politics with different social backgrounds, thought process and life choices. To over simplify and tag each of them- 

Radwan the religious 

Ali Taha the communist 

Mahgub the anarchist

Ahmed Badir the journalist

Religion + Science + Philosophy + ethics = Tuzz

However to know who is the real protagonist, you hear it in his own words:

Down with those philosophers who claimed that happiness consists in simplicity. Wasn’t indigestion preferable to starvation’s torments. 

Or

He received them calmly, because his natural audacity helped him control his nerves and project a self possessed, firm facade. 

Call our protagonist, a capitalist or a realist. He is the commodity in this market where he sells himself and his soul to get a better life. The lives intertwined between the rich and poor, the players and the puppets, the values and reality, the past and the present and future. 

But that’s not enough the book is full of gems showing naked reality of life. Even though the story is based in Cairo of 1940s, it reminded me of the old bollywood Films where communism and capitalism clashed, the rich exploited the poor, the compromises of a woman in a man’s world, but eventually the happy ending as the good wins over the evil. However, books and art don’t assume a happy ending. After all there are no endings definitely no happy endings. Life is a continuous vicious circle of choices worse than previous ones. 

The novel is more than 80 years old but still so relevant. The left vs right debate, the politicians, bureaucracy and journalism tugging at each other just like today. The nationalism, freedom and of course an ideal democracy are debates across centuries and countries just redeveloping over times but basically old wine in a new bottle. 

In conclusion, Naguib Mahfouz is a gem of an author, a genre in himself. I discovered him in the Copenhagen library and apparently he has a large bibliography to choose from:

Some pearls of wisdom to keepsake: 

The gist of this book, which you call a story, is ideas and opinions. What I look for in books is life and emotion. 

Since my family won’t leave me anything that gladdens me, I shouldn’t inherit anything from them that sadness me.

Did he really have a friend? He actually was partial to them. He enjoyed  spending time with them, discussing and debating, but what did all that have to do with friendship? 

In this regard, she resembled a migrant in a strange land at the moment his new house welcomes him the first night. 

The conversation between the protagonist and his lady love- 

If that you desire doesn’t exist, then desire what does. She replies, Any place glory flourishes is fine. 

No wound hurts a dead man.

He was suffering from jealousy. Is healthy something naturalist is it a social construct like honor? We are jealous while in line as long as we think ourselves fit to be loved. 

Filial piety turned into an evil once it limited a son’s happiness. Indeed everything that interferes with an individuals happiness was evil. 

Cunning devil, I know you s well as you know yourself. It’s enough for me to understand myself to understand you. Every bane has its corresponding nemesis.