The story jumps timelines quickly to 1969, introducing Salwa’s daughter, Jamil, who later changes her name to Jasmine. As time flows, in a mostly linear fashion, Jasmine rises from a “barefoot girl in a remote village” in Egypt to the 1970’s New York City modeling scene. Jasmine’s appeal is undeniable—“She was like a very subtle perfume, tangy and lingering, but light as a butterfly's kiss” —but the glamor of her new world can’t quite hide the lingering political turmoil of her birthplace. Sol, too, undergoes his own transformation over the years, as his family makes the trek from Egypt to the United States in search of safe harbor.
Sumptuous details, occasionally overly rich, treat readers to a feast for the senses, from the crowded, noisy bustle of Cairo to the cozy warmth of homes old and new, as Naggar both introduces and celebrates the fabric of culture in this character-driven story. The panoply of characters lends the work a vibrant flair, and each voice is unique, though the sheer quantity of names and relationships can become confusing. Jasmine’s development will resonate—both as a reflection of contemporary events and for the sweet, powerful story of human tenacity and family bonds.
Takeaway: A powerful reflection on politics, family, and human resilience in the wake of exile.
Comparable Titles: Abraham Verghese’s The Covenant of Water, Yaa Gyasi’s Homegoing.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
An absorbing, sweeping historical saga of love, loss, and redemption. Naggar’s vividly-drawn characters begin their difficult but ultimately deeply rewarding journeys in Nasser’s Egypt in 1956, finding their way to personal and professional success in fashion and finance in post-9/11 New York. In the aftermath of the Suez crisis, a prosperous Jewish family is expelled, forced to leave everything behind. Some ten years later, a young Muslim village girl is pushed by her overburdened mother into the hands of an American model who longs to adopt her. Chance has linked these disparate lives, and in Naggar’s skillful hands, we watch in wonder as fate leads them to fulfillment and self-awareness. A deeply moving, satisfying read that along the way teaches us a great deal about Jews, Muslims, Egypt, and the U.S. in the 20th and 21st centuries.
