إلى مصر… مع حبي: ذكريات يهودية مصرية

by Viviane Bowell, ڨيڨيان بويل, عبد المجيد المهيلمي (Translator)

تقول ڨيڨيان بويل في مقدمتها لهذا الكتاب الممتع:

«أُجبرت عائلتي اليهودية على مغادرة مصر عقب العدوان الثلاثي عام 1956 مثل كثيرين غيرنا. كانت فترة عصيبة، إذ انفصلت العائلات والأصدقاء بين ليلة وضحاها، وتشتتوا في دول العالم المختلفة.

كنت صغيرة عندما غادرنا مصر، ولكنني أتذكر أشياء كثيرة بشوق وحنين كبيرين. أشعر بأنني محظوظة حقًّا لأنني نشأت في مصر، هذا البلد الاستثنائي، بتاريخه وثقافته، وبشعبه الحنون المضياف الكريم.

أردتُ أن أكتب هذا الكتاب إرثًا لعائلتي، ولوصف الحياة الكريمة التي نعمت بها عائلة يهودية سفاردية ميسورة الحال عاشت في القاهرة في أربعينيات وخمسينيات القرن العشرين.

لم يعد المجتمع الذي نشأتُ فيه موجودًا، ولكن الذكريات الجميلة لا تزال حية».

Genres: Nonfiction

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 2021

Reviews

[Valectrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a charming book about Viviane Bowell’s memories about her early childhood growing up in Cairo during the late 1940: and early 1950s. It is part memoir, part cultural history and 100% love letter to the city. She has a unique perspective on life in the predominantly Muslim city as her family was Jewish and considered themselves to be Egyptian as her father, Viviane and her two sisters were born there. This book truly describes a bygone world as few Jews remain in Arab countries. Anyone who has lived in Cairo can relate to her love of the city in all of its chaotic, kinetic glory and likely will take time to reminisce about their own Cairo memories as she writes about her favorite times in Cairo (and also Alexandria).

[Judy Podwil · Rating 4 out of 5]

mostly fascinating

I learned a lot for which I am grateful.
It’s must more than story about her Egyptian childhood.
Her honesty about herself is more than I expected.
A fascinating history but also cathartic.
A good editor would have helped the flow.
I’m glad I read it.

[Kathryn Dominey · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is a good story but the book itself needs proof reading as there were a lot of spelling mistakes and grammar errors. I also found that the same things were repeated a few times after being discussed in an earlier chapter.

[Marilyn]

DNF