A Chance to See Egypt

by Sandra Scofield

Traveling to the site of his honeymoon after the tragic death of his wife, Tom Riley is befriended by an expatriate American writer who prompts him to change his life, an encounter that brings him face-to-face with an enchanting Mexican family. National ad/promo.

Genres: Fiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1996

Reviews

[Denise Benoit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting characters

[Nik Maack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this in a used book store in Guanajuato city in Mexico. Ironically, it is a book about gringos in Mexico.

I was reading this book as I visited San Miguel de Allende on a day trip. I found San Miguel kind of gross. Lots and lots of retired gringos and tourists. I prefer Gunajuato city for its Mexican populace and Mexican tourists.

Riley, a character in the book, goes through a similar experience. He flees the gringo hotel, where he has a crappy experience, and goes to a village where real Mexicans live.

There is a certain type of tourist, and I seem to be one of them, who is looking for the "authentic" experience. This can be embarrassing, particularly when visiting a poor country where your much needed dollars are welcome. They'll sell you pretty much anything, if it will get money out of your hands and into theirs. And who can blame them. And anything can be labelled authentic, if poor people do it and charge rich people money to see it.

Anyway, about this book. It talks about some of that. And it's readable. There isn't exactly what you'd call a conflict. It's romantic, in a sense. The plot twist, if you can call it that, I saw coming a mile away. And all the same it left me feeling a little queasy. The happily ever after feels forced and weird and hollow. Everybody gets what they want and I guess you could call it a miracle or you could call it fulfilling a personal goal and calling it "love".

But there are some great bits within the book that I enjoyed. And it's a pretty great book to be reading while travelling / staying in Mexico.

I'm going to leave it and two other books I finished in this B&B where I am staying.

[Terry Polston · Rating 3 out of 5]

A middle aged man travels to Mexico where he and his wife honeymooned 10 years earlier. His wife passed 28 months earlier. He is a great traveler, immersing himself in the local life. He is able to open his heart and his mind and find love again. The girl's desire is to move to the US. She basically seduces him the way a 19 year old beauty can. He is starved for love, he is a well-to-do gringo, the attraction is enough.
Some very interesting stories of life in a small village, a little larger place with a hotel, and a very small village that is more of a hamlet.
Egypt is mentioned a few times but only in the context of someplace he wants to visit.
This book is all about rural life in Tecatitlian, Mexico.

[Michael Rudzik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Liked the writer’s style. Set in a small village in Mexico. Interesting writing about the foods and culture. A novel for someone that has experienced loss in their life. Hope springs eternal!

[Chris Risley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm torn - this book is beautifully written and has wonderful descriptions of life in a small Mexican village. But the story line took a turn about 3/4 of the way in that spoiled it for me.

[Judy King · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this book. The plot was draggy and the author made minor changes to "disguise" this area of Mexico--instead of Lake Chapala it was Lago del Luz--but it was still the largest lake in Mexico, near Guadalajara and 60 miles long. She combined landmarks and organizations. All her local detail was just plain distracting.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 2 out of 5]

October 31, 2006

A group of characters come together through a variety of circumstances to a little village in Mexico where they find happiness, new friendships and their muse. It's just so heartwarming that I'm gagging on its sacchrine goodness.

[Book Concierge · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a delightful book. Tom Riley has lost his wife and goes back to the Mexican village where they honeymooned. He is a lost man; enveloped in his grief, his regrets, and his sense of loss. But he "writes a new chapter; introduces new characters; changes the plot."

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book that was set in Mexico (don't let the title fool you). A hand full of chapters were told in first person narrative while the rest was in third person. I don't care for books that do this (personal preference).

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A simple and nicely written tale of a man who finds a new life and love in a tiny Mexican village after the death of his wife.

[Mia Valdez Quellhorst · Rating 1 out of 5]

generically alright. nothing to exciting, in any aspect. the mexican village setting was nice, but it needed more. not a bad way to kill time, but not a oh-man-can't-put-it-down sort of book.

[Jane]

Another $1 book. Another okay book to read on a plane.

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a nice read - not going to change the way you think or move you to do great things, but a nice read ...

[Joellenparker]

set in Mexico

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh....

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is truly magical. I don't even have words to describe it!

[Regina Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go to another country grief-strickened and come back newly in love.