I thoroughly enjoyed this - it's a very unusual book in that it is both a travelogue and a love story, as well as being a meditation on Egyptian society and the differences between Middle Eastern culture and the West. One of the best books I have read.

Informative, objective yet sympathetic view and analysis of educated middle class Egyptians. Refreshingly, this enlightened expat exhibits sincere intent on understanding Egyptian culture rather than criticizing or denigrating it. He expends real effort in putting behaviors and observations in a meaningful context.Entertaining and occasionnalyy funny reading..... but Would have benefited from a better editor and an intensive lesson on the importance of commas and sentence structures.