once described himself as 'a fourth- or fifth-rate writer,'

August 30, 2006 1:15 PM

"Life is wise to deceive us," he once wrote, "for had it told us from the start what it had in store for us, we would refuse to be born." --Naguib Mahfouz, RIP --and more from when he won the Nobel in 1988
posted by amberglow (20 comments total)

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posted by Iridic at 1:18 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by matteo at 1:18 PM on August 30, 2006

Oh wow, that's too bad. I've liked everything I've read by him, which I've always felt was too little. I still remember working in a bookstore in the late 80s when his work was only published by a tiny independent press down the road from our store, Three Continents Press.

Maybe now I'll finally get around to the Cairo Trilogy.
posted by OmieWise at 1:22 PM on August 30, 2006

Only read one of his books, and enjoyed it. I'll have to make the time for some more.
posted by bardic at 1:24 PM on August 30, 2006

I've only read these 3 novellas-- Respected Sir, Wedding Song, The Search--simply wonderful
posted by amberglow at 1:26 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by prostyle at 1:26 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by mds35 at 1:48 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by hototogisu at 1:49 PM on August 30, 2006

Maybe now I'll finally get around to the Cairo Trilogy.

Me too. I've only read Miramar, and I loved it. I've been meaning to tackle the C3 for years.
posted by mds35 at 1:50 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by suedehead at 1:54 PM on August 30, 2006

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Mahfouz survived getting stabbed in the neck by Islamic fundamentalists from his own country, even before the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie. At least he passed away under much more peaceful circumstances in a hospital.
posted by jonp72 at 2:10 PM on August 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

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posted by scody at 3:28 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by languagehat at 5:16 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by Wolof at 6:35 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by owhydididoit at 7:05 PM on August 30, 2006

Man, Cairo Trilogy is up there on my top ten along with Midaq Alley. I love everything I have read of Mahfouz.
posted by tellurian at 8:19 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by renraw at 10:45 PM on August 30, 2006

He was a phenomenal and beautiful writer. I'm glad he lived a nice long time and created so much great work.
posted by chicobangs at 11:33 PM on August 30, 2006

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posted by Deoridhe at 8:18 AM on August 31, 2006

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posted by jlbartosa at 8:02 PM on September 1, 2006