What do you think?
Rate this book
انها لندن يا عزيزي
Four strangers meet on a turbulent flight from Dubai to London: Amira, a canny Moroccan prostitute; Lamis, a 30-year old Iraqi divorcee; Nicholas, an English expert on Islamic art; and Samir, a Lebanese man who is delivering a monkey on a mission he doesn’t fully understand. Once safely on British soil, Lamis and Nicholas fall in love, Samir chases after blond British youths, and Amira reinvents herself as a princess, the better to lure clients at the best London hotels. Through the city and across cultural borders, Only in London wittily portrays the smells, sounds, and sights of London’s lively Arab neighorhoods, as well as the freedoms the city both offers and withholds from its immigrants.
First published January 1, 2001
29 people are currently reading
687 people want to read
About the author
Hanan Al-Shaykh
33 books331 followersHanan Al-Shaykh (Arabic: حنان الشيخ) is a Lebanese journalist, novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. Born into a conservative Shia' Muslim family, she received her primary education in Beirut and later she attended the American College for Girls in Cairo. She began her journalism career in Egypt before returning to Lebanon. Her short stories and novels feature primarily female characters in the face of conservative religious traditions set against the backdrop of political tensions and instability of the Lebanese civil war.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
April 29, 2023
رواية جاهدت كاتبتها لتشويه صور العرب من خلالها و نجحت في تصوير مجموعة من الاشخاص كأمثلة اجتماعية و للعجب اجتمعت فيها كل العيوب و الموبيقات!
مهاجرين عرب في لندن هم سارقين مستغلين و كاذبين
والمهاجرات العربييات يمتهن الدعارة بكل فخر و فن و احتراف !
كل شخصيات الرواية تمارس الجنس مع الكل .. لا حدود لأي منهم و انحلال بالمعنى الحرفي كنوع من انواع الحرية الفردية !
الرواية عبارة عن تسويق افكار مسمومة مدسوسة بين سطورها أهمها ان لندن مدينة الحرية الحب و الجنس و العرب يعانون في بلدانهم من القمع و بالتالي اذن لندن هي الملاذ و افضل مكان على الكوكب لممارسة كل انواع الحريات و اهمها حريةممارسة الجنس مع الكل باسم التحضر و التقدم و الحرية ايضا ! تصوير البلدان الغربية كأنها جنة العرب و خلاصهم من التخلف في بلدانهم فكرة مستهلكة و غبية تم تجاوزها من سنين الا ان الكاتبة صممت على مضغها و عجنها لتصنع هذه التحفة الادبية و تشويه صورة العرب في المهجر و حصرهم في من يفكرون فقط في الجنس سواء بمقابل او لا !
رواية مسيئة بالمعنى الحرفي للكلمة لا اكثر ولا اقل !
مهاجرين عرب في لندن هم سارقين مستغلين و كاذبين
والمهاجرات العربييات يمتهن الدعارة بكل فخر و فن و احتراف !
كل شخصيات الرواية تمارس الجنس مع الكل .. لا حدود لأي منهم و انحلال بالمعنى الحرفي كنوع من انواع الحرية الفردية !
الرواية عبارة عن تسويق افكار مسمومة مدسوسة بين سطورها أهمها ان لندن مدينة الحرية الحب و الجنس و العرب يعانون في بلدانهم من القمع و بالتالي اذن لندن هي الملاذ و افضل مكان على الكوكب لممارسة كل انواع الحريات و اهمها حريةممارسة الجنس مع الكل باسم التحضر و التقدم و الحرية ايضا ! تصوير البلدان الغربية كأنها جنة العرب و خلاصهم من التخلف في بلدانهم فكرة مستهلكة و غبية تم تجاوزها من سنين الا ان الكاتبة صممت على مضغها و عجنها لتصنع هذه التحفة الادبية و تشويه صورة العرب في المهجر و حصرهم في من يفكرون فقط في الجنس سواء بمقابل او لا !
رواية مسيئة بالمعنى الحرفي للكلمة لا اكثر ولا اقل !
May 18, 2018
Ако трябва да бъда абсолютно честна, в началото много подцених тази книга. Казах си "Изглежда ми скучна. Не искам да я чета. Това сигурно е пълна загуба на време" и т.н. Обаче се случи така, че един горещ летен ден аз останах без книга, без интернет и съответно бях изключително отегчена. Видях "Само в Лондон" и реших да зачета, за да убия време. В началото четенето ми вървеше някак сковано, може би, защото бях предубедена, но в последствие осъзнах колко съм се заблуждавала и останах много приятно изненадана от книгата.
В действителност на някои може да им се стори малко мудна и скучна, тъй като сюжета е базиран главно на мислите на героите. Почти няма действие. Като цяло не би допаднала на всеки, но мисля, че си заслужава и не бива да се подценява (както направах аз, за което съжалявам). Харесва ми, че във всяка отделна глава е представена различна гледна точка и сюжетна линия.
Сюжетът ни запознава с 4-ма души, които пътуват в самолет от Дубай към Лондон. 3-ма араби и един англичанин. Случва се така, че някак си съдбите на тези хора се преплитат съвсем неочаквано. Всеки има собствената си съдба, която по един или друг начин се опитва да промени. Интересно е проследяването на мислите на героите и промяната, която настъпва в тях. Авторът представя различни гледни точки, пречупени през призмата на преживяното. Както казах, интереса ми се породи не толкова от действието, колкото от размислите и възприятията на героите, които са отраснали по различен начин и са добили различен морал. В книгата се преплитат пълните противоположности на две жени - една проститутка и една жена, вярна на морала и възпитанието, която е имала семейство, но с течение на обстоятелствата, осъзнавайки, че не е щастлива, опитва да намери начин да постигне своята форма на удовлетворение...
Мисля, че няма нужда да издавам повече от сюжета, а трябва Вие сами да се докоснете до него. Много философска и караща те да се замислиш. Смятам, че е достойна за прочит и горещо препоръчвам!
В действителност на някои може да им се стори малко мудна и скучна, тъй като сюжета е базиран главно на мислите на героите. Почти няма действие. Като цяло не би допаднала на всеки, но мисля, че си заслужава и не бива да се подценява (както направах аз, за което съжалявам). Харесва ми, че във всяка отделна глава е представена различна гледна точка и сюжетна линия.
Сюжетът ни запознава с 4-ма души, които пътуват в самолет от Дубай към Лондон. 3-ма араби и един англичанин. Случва се така, че някак си съдбите на тези хора се преплитат съвсем неочаквано. Всеки има собствената си съдба, която по един или друг начин се опитва да промени. Интересно е проследяването на мислите на героите и промяната, която настъпва в тях. Авторът представя различни гледни точки, пречупени през призмата на преживяното. Както казах, интереса ми се породи не толкова от действието, колкото от размислите и възприятията на героите, които са отраснали по различен начин и са добили различен морал. В книгата се преплитат пълните противоположности на две жени - една проститутка и една жена, вярна на морала и възпитанието, която е имала семейство, но с течение на обстоятелствата, осъзнавайки, че не е щастлива, опитва да намери начин да постигне своята форма на удовлетворение...
Мисля, че няма нужда да издавам повече от сюжета, а трябва Вие сами да се докоснете до него. Много философска и караща те да се замислиш. Смятам, че е достойна за прочит и горещо препоръчвам!
November 28, 2016
إنها تفاهة يا أعزائي!!
ملاحظة : الغلاف الذي شاهدته معروض في رف المكتبة لم يكن كهذا الغلاف المعروض في الموقع.. لأنه لو كان مثله لما اقتنيت الرواية.
ملاحظة : الغلاف الذي شاهدته معروض في رف المكتبة لم يكن كهذا الغلاف المعروض في الموقع.. لأنه لو كان مثله لما اقتنيت الرواية.
December 14, 2021
نادرًا ما أترك كتاب في المنتصف. لكنّني فعلًا لم أستطع تجاوز ١٠٠ صفحة من أصل ٤٠٠.
ضيعان الشجر الي نقص لحتّى ينطبع هيك كتاب
ضيعان الشجر الي نقص لحتّى ينطبع هيك كتاب
December 27, 2012
This novel concerns four people, three of them Arabs living in London, and an Englishman fascinated by Arabian artefacts. It looked quite promising, with its cast of interesting characters – none of the Arabs conform to stereotypes: one is a divorced woman, one a prostitute, the third is a transvestite who hangs out with a monkey.
It’s hard to describe why I found it a difficult read. It isn’t badly written, and interesting things happen throughout. But I think it was the randomness of the whole thing, and the abrupt endings of some of the sections that made it a bumpy ride. The central trunk of the story sent off so many tributary branches but few had more than a few pages invested in them. I would have liked to learn more about, say, Nicholas’s parents – they were intriguing (he calls them by their first names, and his dad is a vicar and thinks it would be a good idea for him to try to convert some of his friends in the Gulf...!!??). Nicholas, too....was he supposed to be a typical Englishman? Because I’d say his sexual practices alone would make him odd in the eyes of most Brits.
Not a totally positive reading experience for me, and I sense there was a deeper meaning to the whole thing that I missed. But I wouldn’t rule out reading more by this author who covers ground other authors don’t.
It’s hard to describe why I found it a difficult read. It isn’t badly written, and interesting things happen throughout. But I think it was the randomness of the whole thing, and the abrupt endings of some of the sections that made it a bumpy ride. The central trunk of the story sent off so many tributary branches but few had more than a few pages invested in them. I would have liked to learn more about, say, Nicholas’s parents – they were intriguing (he calls them by their first names, and his dad is a vicar and thinks it would be a good idea for him to try to convert some of his friends in the Gulf...!!??). Nicholas, too....was he supposed to be a typical Englishman? Because I’d say his sexual practices alone would make him odd in the eyes of most Brits.
Not a totally positive reading experience for me, and I sense there was a deeper meaning to the whole thing that I missed. But I wouldn’t rule out reading more by this author who covers ground other authors don’t.
February 1, 2009
نلاحظ ان اغلب عناوين كتب حنان الشيخ رنانة ذكية وتشدك لاقناءها. ولكن خذلتني رواية لندن التي اتت باهتة مملة مطولة في تفاصيلها الباردة. حاولت ان اكمل الرواية سريعا كي اتخلص من عبئها فاكملتها خلال اربعة اشهر ولم تعجبني البتة.
December 19, 2020
I wanted to like this more than I did. It had some wacky and very colorful characters (and a monkey!), and was a neat view into a particular slice of Arab life in London, but it just couldn't really hold my attention. (Fair chance this is the pandemic's fault for wrecking my brain, not Hanan's.)
September 19, 2015
My expectations might have been too high for Hanan Al-Shaykh after having listened to parts of her "The Story of Zarah" on the Swedish national radio.
It is always interesting to see the familiar through the eyes of "the Other". I don't think this novel comes up to the level of, for instance, Sam Seldon's classics "The Lonely Londoners" and "Moses Ascending" (Caribbean) or Zadie Smith's "White Teeth", or Andrea Levy's "Small Island" (Jamaican) all of which describe experiences of immigrants in London.
I think it is important to remember that this may not have aged well. Though published in 2001 it reminds me of more London in the eighties or early nineties, though I didn't understand much of what I then observed until much later. The portrait of Amira reminded me strongly of a woman guest at a hotel, a family hotel, in Turkey where I spent a month in 1997.
To be fair, London has changed a lot (as have many other mega-cities) after 9/11. This novel is clearly pre-9/11.
I own two other books by Hanan Al-Shaykh and will try her again. I may change my mind about this novel in time; I haven't quite digested it yet.
It is always interesting to see the familiar through the eyes of "the Other". I don't think this novel comes up to the level of, for instance, Sam Seldon's classics "The Lonely Londoners" and "Moses Ascending" (Caribbean) or Zadie Smith's "White Teeth", or Andrea Levy's "Small Island" (Jamaican) all of which describe experiences of immigrants in London.
I think it is important to remember that this may not have aged well. Though published in 2001 it reminds me of more London in the eighties or early nineties, though I didn't understand much of what I then observed until much later. The portrait of Amira reminded me strongly of a woman guest at a hotel, a family hotel, in Turkey where I spent a month in 1997.
To be fair, London has changed a lot (as have many other mega-cities) after 9/11. This novel is clearly pre-9/11.
I own two other books by Hanan Al-Shaykh and will try her again. I may change my mind about this novel in time; I haven't quite digested it yet.
January 4, 2011
I'm somewhat annoyed with this book. I was REALLY looking forward to reading it, but it just didn't turn out how I thought it would. The novel switches from Lamis' story, to Amira's and then to Samir's in each chapter, which was a nice way of seeing how the character's lives intertwined, but the main thing that irritated me was we heard a LOT more about what was happening with Lamis, more than anoybody else. And, unfortunately for me, Lamis was my least favourite character, she never ceased to annoy me with her constant self-pitying. I would have liked to have read Nicholas' side, especially towards the end of the novel, and heard more about Amira and Samir rather than the constant rambling about Lamis and why she didnt feel comfortable moving in with Nicholas, amongst various other things.
Over all, I have read worse, but this book really let me down, considering I had been so excited to read it.
Over all, I have read worse, but this book really let me down, considering I had been so excited to read it.
May 24, 2011
This book was also apart of my Arab Female Lit class. It was fun and quirky. For me it was a series of 'coming of age' stories. This was a total CGS (Critical Gender Studies) book. There are themes of inter-racial/cultural dating, homosexuality, and prostitution. But the book doesn't come off as cheap or informative. The stories that unfold are very organic and they flow so well together. It's non-fictional accounts of different lifestyles that can happen 'Only in London' was a very entertaining read. I didn't give it 5 stars because of the ending...if I remember correctly, it left me wanting more closure.
September 26, 2022
Mielenkiintoinen kirja neljästä erilaisesta ihmisestä, jotka kohtaavat matkalla Lontooseen. Sekä ihmiset että kulttuurit kohtaavat sumun keskellä. Ja onhan kirjassa apinakin. Oli ilo seurata päähenkilöiden matkaa ja teksti oli selkeää sekä kiinnostavaa.
April 4, 2012
لم تكن بمستوى حكايتي شرح يطول - مسك الغزال
كانت رواية سطحية محورها الجنس
تتحدث الرواية عن اميرة المغربية ا��تي تعمل كمسوس في لندن وكيف تخدع الزبائن بانتحالها صفة اميرة
لميس العراقية المطلقة من رجل لاتحبه تقع في حب نيقولاس وتخشى الارتباط به
نيقولاس العاشق المحب للميس واغلب الاحداث تتحدث عن الوضعيات والجنس بطريقة ساذجة
سمير الرجل الانثى الذي يبحث عن الشقر
لا انصح بها
+18
كانت رواية سطحية محورها الجنس
تتحدث الرواية عن اميرة المغربية ا��تي تعمل كمسوس في لندن وكيف تخدع الزبائن بانتحالها صفة اميرة
لميس العراقية المطلقة من رجل لاتحبه تقع في حب نيقولاس وتخشى الارتباط به
نيقولاس العاشق المحب للميس واغلب الاحداث تتحدث عن الوضعيات والجنس بطريقة ساذجة
سمير الرجل الانثى الذي يبحث عن الشقر
لا انصح بها
+18
October 4, 2020
Great book! I'm trying to read books, contemporary mainly, from Middle East and Arab countries. This is one of the few known Arabic women authors, from Lebanon. The book is funny and deep and I learned! ;)
April 7, 2012
I dont recommend it at all
December 25, 2024
Vier Menschen mit unterschiedlichem Hintergrund nehmen den gleichen Flug von Dubai nach London Heathrow. Lamis, die nach der Scheidung von ihrem reichen Ehemann ihr Leben neu aufbauen muss, die Prostituierte Amira, die sich gerne als Prinzessin ausgibt, der Transvestit Samir, der in seiner Heimat ein normales Familienleben hat und Nicholas, ein Experte für arabische Dolche. Von dem Moment, in dem sie landen, sind ihre Schicksale miteinander verwoben.
Auch wenn der Autor vier einzelne Geschichten erzählt, haben sie sich für mich zu zwei zusammen gefasst. Die Geschichten von Samir und Amira waren so schillernd und teilweise übertrieben, dass sie manchmal in einem ganz anderen Buch zu spielen schienen. Lamis und Nicholas wirkten dagegen völlig normal, auch wenn sie das nicht immer waren. Lamis hatte sich noch nicht von ihrer Vergangenheit und ihrer unglücklichen Ehe befreit und Nicholas... von ihm habe ich nur wenig erfahren.
Der Unterschied zwischen den schillernden und den normalen Erlebnissen war groß. Was sie gemeinsam hatten, war dass sie sich in alle in einem kleinen Teil von London abspielten, den ich selbst kenne und mag. Das Lokalkolorit hat das Chaos mehr als ausgeglichen.
Auch wenn der Autor vier einzelne Geschichten erzählt, haben sie sich für mich zu zwei zusammen gefasst. Die Geschichten von Samir und Amira waren so schillernd und teilweise übertrieben, dass sie manchmal in einem ganz anderen Buch zu spielen schienen. Lamis und Nicholas wirkten dagegen völlig normal, auch wenn sie das nicht immer waren. Lamis hatte sich noch nicht von ihrer Vergangenheit und ihrer unglücklichen Ehe befreit und Nicholas... von ihm habe ich nur wenig erfahren.
Der Unterschied zwischen den schillernden und den normalen Erlebnissen war groß. Was sie gemeinsam hatten, war dass sie sich in alle in einem kleinen Teil von London abspielten, den ich selbst kenne und mag. Das Lokalkolorit hat das Chaos mehr als ausgeglichen.
April 2, 2020
It was an ok read. The books goes very fast since you're following the story of four different characters. It was interesting to get a dry small glimpse of part of the life in the Arab community in London, and how these particular characters have a relationship with the city they now live in and with their families back at home, which more times than not, tends to be a complicated one. All of the Arab characters are not accepted in their families, due to different circumstances, and they all seem to thrive more in London because of the freedom it offers them to be who they are. And our only Englishman, obsessed as he is with the culture, is still quite detached from the reality these people live in.
But it's just that, it's a story to keep you entertained a while, but nothing ever really concludes or goes anywhere, save for Lamis' story, who is also the most prominent character. All the rest, their stories drift towards the end and there was nothing left. I thought I'd have more, but then ending felt rather abrupt.
But it's just that, it's a story to keep you entertained a while, but nothing ever really concludes or goes anywhere, save for Lamis' story, who is also the most prominent character. All the rest, their stories drift towards the end and there was nothing left. I thought I'd have more, but then ending felt rather abrupt.
August 14, 2023
i remember a south asian friend wrote a story for a writing course where she made fun of her own community in a piece and her professor ended up giving her an article about anne frank that somehow related to his argument that just because you’re X minority or with some categorical group doesn’t mean you’re allowed to/should shit on your community. the one star reviews from the arabs are SO HIM! behind every joke is a bit of truth and criticism; just because you grew up in a culture does not mean you must honor every aspect of it—novel argument, right?? groundbreaking for the arabs i guess. (lebanese man being gay really hits home, the rumors are true huh.)
if i had to be angry about one thing as someone who puts her arab heritage on too high of a pedestal i’d say why the hell did lamis not pick up on nicholas’s obvious fetishism for arabs?? girl tf
if i had to be angry about one thing as someone who puts her arab heritage on too high of a pedestal i’d say why the hell did lamis not pick up on nicholas’s obvious fetishism for arabs?? girl tf
December 7, 2023
This is the final book in my Non-Western literature class we read for this semester. I was excited to be introduced to another Middle Eastern author since I loved "Palace Walk" and "The Arabian Nights" so much and explore these worlds. So, I was eager to begin this novel.
I was really disappointed, to be honest this book did not grab me like the others did in this course. I felt the two perspectives really don't have much to do with each other and read choppy to me. I liked Lamis's journey towards accepting her Arabic heritage and that was about it. I didn't care for her romance, or really any of the other characters. The best way I can describe this book was that is just felt dry to me as a reader.
So this will be given two stars and I will probably get rid of it from my personal library since I don't have room for books I don't personally care for.
I was really disappointed, to be honest this book did not grab me like the others did in this course. I felt the two perspectives really don't have much to do with each other and read choppy to me. I liked Lamis's journey towards accepting her Arabic heritage and that was about it. I didn't care for her romance, or really any of the other characters. The best way I can describe this book was that is just felt dry to me as a reader.
So this will be given two stars and I will probably get rid of it from my personal library since I don't have room for books I don't personally care for.
January 10, 2019
Second time reading this and it will be my last. Felt the characters lacked depth and their exploits were two dimensional. I only got to the end with the beautiful descriptions of London, one of my favourite cities in the world.
June 17, 2019
How did this author even mange to get a publisher and be ranked a a 'best selling' author? This book is sheer torture-monotonous boring, repetitive and lacks a story line...utter waste of time and paper.
August 31, 2023
كتير تعليقات هي عن الغلاف او عن تشويه صورة العرب الخ، بس عم يعطي هذا التقييم مشان صعب اتبع على الشخصيات ووصف القصة غير عن المحتوى وكنت حابه يكون في تعمق اكتر بالشخصيات، بس مكنهما توجه شخصي جدا والهدف إنه اكون قصة فيها خفة وتسلية. ما قدرت أكمل للآخر كمان.
August 6, 2017
As I said--it was just OK. An easy read for me, with not a lot happening!!
March 7, 2018
Onsamenhangend verhaal, weinig tot geen diepgang, afin, ik vind het geen aanrader.
October 20, 2018
اهدار للوقت وللمجهود.. كلمة واحدة: تافهة
October 8, 2020
Good book.
February 6, 2021
Just not my cuppa tea. Dull story dull characters was glad to finish it.
February 8, 2022
لولا الضجر وفضولي لما أكملت هذه الرواية للأخير لكونها لا تطرح مواضيعاً جديدة، وحتى أسلوب صياغتها قديم الطراز… ربما يكون السبب أنها نشرت لأول مرة سنة 2001.
July 9, 2025
قد تكون مناسبة في زمانها، لكن حالياً لم أندمج في الرواية، ولا ترتقي لأي مستوى.
ضيعت وقتي بصراحة.
ضيعت وقتي بصراحة.
December 7, 2020
No comments about this one. Simply – do not read!
January 25, 2022
Far fetched subject matter, at times the writing felt disjointed but the characters were interesting. I wanted more of the story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews