Review by Booklist Review
In 2002, the author and her sisters founded Diwan, a multi-lingual, multicultural bookstore in Cairo, Egypt. Mubarak was in power and the social climate was not exactly ripe for such a venture, and yet despite all odds, it not only survived but grew to 16 locations. However, this is not merely a book about a business venture, though readers will learn much about the ins and outs of the bookselling business. Wassef also describes the social and political climate of Egypt and the restrictions that women are faced with. Bookselling is not necessarily a source of great profits, but it offers fulfillment in many other ways. The locations and styles of the stores reflect the women and the society's changes. Their specially designed bag becomes something of a status symbol. Eventually, Wassef moves to London and leaves Diwan in the hands of her sisters and partners. This is a personal story that tells much about a woman's life in the Arab world and is well worth reading. Appropriate for most libraries.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this bold and humorous debut, Wassef reflects on founding a modern bookstore, "the first of its kind in Cairo," at a critical time in the early aughts when Egypt's illiteracy rate was at an all-time high and revolution was on the horizon. With her sister, Hind, and friend, Nihal, Wassef made her passion for books into a profession and together the three women opened their bookstore, Diwan, in 2002, in the face of a patriarchal society and "bureaucratic despots." Wassef details the business's evolution, over her 14 years running it, from an audacious dream to the national success and household name it continues to be today, with several locations operating across Egypt. In chapters cleverly named after sections of the bookstore--from "Pregnancy and Parenting" to "Egypt Essentials"--she braids personal anecdotes, historical context, and day-to-day interactions with regulars (including the occasional disgruntled customer who tries to return a book purely because they didn't like it). Occasionally, Wassef's musings can feel disjointed as she toggles between these various modes, but her singular voice and witty observations make up for it. This is a book for book people, challenging the perspective of the traditional American and European publishing worlds with verve and style. Agent: Caroline Dawnay, United Agents. (Oct.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
In this memoir, Wassef, the cofounder of the influential Cairo bookstore Diwan, recounts building her business and narrates her journey as a wife, working mother, and Egyptian. She paints a vivid image of the book industry in Cairo of nearly 20 years ago, when she entered the scene with her sister Hind (cofounder of Diwan), describing the harried world of publishing and the misogyny that working Egyptian women faced, as well as the streets and neighborhoods of her city. With the founding of Diwan in 2002, the sisters were determined to provide a new outlet for culture and entertainment and carve out a space for women to freely read and explore. Wassef writes about building her reputation and skill as a bookseller over years of operating Diwan and overseeing large and small aspects of the store; all the while, she reflects on her identity as an Egyptian woman. The narrative combines memoir, a business success story, and literary criticism, and Wassef shares her love of fiction and the kinds of books she has gravitated to in times of need. VERDICT Wassef's toughness and honesty will endear her to readers, who will surely champion her throughout this chronicle spanning marriage and divorce, the Egyptian revolution of 2011, the country's first democratic election, and the author's eventual decision to leave her role at Diwan to make space for the new.--Mattie Cook, Flat River Community Lib., MI
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
The uplifting story of an Egyptian woman's passion for books. In 2002, Wassef and her two sisters opened a bookstore they called Diwan on the outskirts of Cairo. Her country was in political turmoil, and citizens had little interest in reading and writing. As she writes in this engaging and heartwarming memoir, "starting a bookstore at this moment of cultural atrophy seemed impossible--and utterly necessary." On International Women's Day, they opened their groundbreaking bookstore/cafe, stocking Arabic, English, and some French and German titles, later adding films, music, and stationery. It served as an oasis on a hot, traffic-choked street, the author's "love letter to Egypt." The women had a lot to learn about the business of selling books in a price-sensitive market: hardcover vs. paperback; data entry and other administrative tasks; hiring--and firing--staff; what makes a good display; customer relations in a masculine world; that a bookstore isn't a library and must turn a profit. Women began to see Diwan as a place of refuge, and tourists visited. Wassef added space for an office, merchandise, bestseller displays, and a special Egypt Essentials section, and the staff puzzled over discounts, net prices, short ships, and censorship challenges--e.g., stocking Jamie Oliver's The Naked Chef. In 2007, they opened their second branch. "Then," she writes, "we drifted from the black into the unfamiliar red. We were in the throes of a global recession." New art and design, self-help, and how-to sections helped. At the height of their success, they had 16 stores (and closed six). This is much more than a bookseller's story. Wassef discusses Egyptian history, politics, and culture. She learned that bookselling is like "marriage and football. While a fair amount of skill is needed, it's more about fate, and luck." The first five years were "chaos," the next five frustrating, the last five "just painful," as she juggled a career, children, and two divorces. Book lovers will thoroughly enjoy experiencing Wassef's dream. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
