Good Reads / Community Library Notes
Live from Cairo
Ian Bassingthwaighte
Review by Priscilla Comen
Live from Cairo
Ian Bassingthwaighte
Review by Priscilla Comen
Live from Cairo by Ian Bassingthwaighte is the story of one couple, refugees from their home, who want a better life, and those people who try to help them. Dalia has sold all her possessions and even her body, to help her husband, Omran, get to America. Omran was tortured and wounded (he lost an eye) because he worked for an American company. He would be killed if he didn’t leave Egypt. And so he did. But Dalia was refused emigration. She is interviewed by Hana, who works at helping refugees to emigrate. It occurs only if their circumstances are “urgent.”
Charlie is also an agent for helping refugees to leave Cairo. He plans elaborate parties on cruise ships for his interns and he wants desperately to help Dalia. He has fallen in love with her. He begs Hana to help. Mustufa is Hana’s taxi driver. She calls him often because he never asks intrusive questions and never gawks at her in his rear view mirror. He drives easily through crowds of protestors.
Dalia phones Omran and tells him not to come back to Egypt. He refuses to listen. In Boston, he gets a job working for Faisal, a Palestinian, fixing cars, and changing oil. He loves talking with Faisal about everything. Faisal tells him about his grown son’s troubles. Omran can’t decide whether to return to Egypt or stay in the U.S. Author Ian describes the sights in Cairo, the garbage dumps, the homeless people, against the background of the revolution and protestors at Tahrir Square. Aos, Charlie’s translator, goes to the square every day, before, after, and during work. He wants to see Mubarek deposed. Author Ian gives us this historical information within the story.
Charlie takes Hana to Dalia’s apartment. He asks Dalia to explain to Hana how she freed Omran. He thinks this will persuade Hana to help her. Charlie devises a plan to help her: they will give Dalia a new identity and find a doctor who will testify she suffers from a rare disease that can only be treated in the U.S. Will Dalia be able to leave before Omran decides to return to Cairo? Will Omran and Dalia be together again? Will Egypt become peaceful one day? This tale is close to the reality. Find out what truly happens. It’s on the new fiction shelf of your community library.
Charlie is also an agent for helping refugees to leave Cairo. He plans elaborate parties on cruise ships for his interns and he wants desperately to help Dalia. He has fallen in love with her. He begs Hana to help. Mustufa is Hana’s taxi driver. She calls him often because he never asks intrusive questions and never gawks at her in his rear view mirror. He drives easily through crowds of protestors.
Dalia phones Omran and tells him not to come back to Egypt. He refuses to listen. In Boston, he gets a job working for Faisal, a Palestinian, fixing cars, and changing oil. He loves talking with Faisal about everything. Faisal tells him about his grown son’s troubles. Omran can’t decide whether to return to Egypt or stay in the U.S. Author Ian describes the sights in Cairo, the garbage dumps, the homeless people, against the background of the revolution and protestors at Tahrir Square. Aos, Charlie’s translator, goes to the square every day, before, after, and during work. He wants to see Mubarek deposed. Author Ian gives us this historical information within the story.
Charlie takes Hana to Dalia’s apartment. He asks Dalia to explain to Hana how she freed Omran. He thinks this will persuade Hana to help her. Charlie devises a plan to help her: they will give Dalia a new identity and find a doctor who will testify she suffers from a rare disease that can only be treated in the U.S. Will Dalia be able to leave before Omran decides to return to Cairo? Will Omran and Dalia be together again? Will Egypt become peaceful one day? This tale is close to the reality. Find out what truly happens. It’s on the new fiction shelf of your community library.