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Formats
Ebook Details
  • 09/2023
  • 978-1-7782304-3-1 B0CC5LY491
  • 205 pages
  • $11.95
Paperback Details
  • 09/2023
  • 978-1-7782304-2-4
  • 178 pages
  • $11.95
Pamela Paterson
Author
Take Me Back to Cairo
Yousef's aspiration to fit into his new country of Canada is upended by the lies he hears from both sides-his traditional family trying to keep him entrenched in Egyptian Muslim culture and his new motorcycle-riding girlfriend Janelle, who disguises her fear of commitment as a freewheeling lifestyle. Yoga-pant-and-flipflop-wearing Janelle is the living embodiment of the adventurous life that camel-hair-coat-and-shiny-shoes Yousef has long craved. Yet his desire to enjoy life with her can only be realized in the shadows, far from the prying eyes of his scheming family. At the same time, Janelle, too, grapples with her own struggles and undisclosed realities. Will the family intrigue, deception, and the chasm of cultural differences push Yousef and Janelle apart, or can the unbreakable bonds of affection triumph over all obstacles? "Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein have written a rollercoaster of a love story that triumphs over a collision of cultures, family dynamics, an old lover, and new traditions. From Kingston to Cairo and back again, this is a compelling and heartwarming tale by two writers who clearly know the inside story." - Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour "With a high sense of humor and deep knowledge of the characteristics of Egyptian and Canadian cultures, Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein wrote a precious book about the two mentalities in the diversity frame. The writers took me smoothly to the depth of both cultures as they appeared in the behaviour, thinking, and feeling of the characters. The style, structure, and development of the action in this piece of fiction made me murmur: this intelligent way of writing is worth reading for its enjoyment and benefit." - Jamal Saeed, author of Yara's Spring and My Road from Damascus
Reviews
Paterson and Hussein (Mommy Takes Cindy to Work) deliver a turbulent love story in their adult fiction debut. Yousef, recently arrived in Canada from Egypt and living with his cousin, is struggling to adjust to Canadian life. His mother’s constant pressure to return home and marry is wearing on him, his job isn’t what he expected, and he can’t seem to connect with the locals. When a chance encounter in a bakery leads him to Janelle, he’s intrigued but wary—their differences are stark, and he’s not sure they’ll mesh, despite the instant attraction. Adding to the confusion is his cousin’s sister, Sarah, a traditional Egyptian woman coming to town to help with the arrival of his cousin’s baby.

Yousef and Janelle capably illuminate the dissonance that can occur in cross-cultural romance. Janelle, quite unlike the women Yousef is used to, rides a motorcycle, craves adventure, and still lives with her cheating ex-boyfriend. Yousef is torn by his desire for Janelle and his longing for home —the food, the comfort, and the customs—all of which Sarah seems to embody, much to Janelle’s annoyance. The couple spend time getting to know each other, but their relationship is fraught with conflicts. Janelle’s hiding her background from Yousef, the two are at odds when it comes to intimacy, and Yousef is feeling the pull of his family at every turn.

Romance fans will appreciate the story’s ending, though the pathway to happily ever after for Yousef and Janelle is convincingly bumpy. The couple seems to be staring certain disaster in the face, and their respective families, rigid with stereotypical beliefs, aren’t helpful to their cause. Though their affection for each other eventually wins out, the lesson to be open-minded and willing to compromise is crucial. Readers may find that the couple’s ultimate positive outcome lacks some buildup, but the characters are relatable and their romance appealing.

Takeaway: Turbulent romance overcomes all odds in this uplifting cross-cultural story.

Comparable Titles: Elena Armas’s The Spanish Love Deception, Jane Igharo’s Ties That Tether.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

Book cover (inside)

"Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein have written a rollercoaster of a love story that triumphs over a collision of cultures, family dynamics, an old lover, and new traditions. From Kingston to Cairo and back again, this is a compelling and heartwarming tale by two writers who clearly know the inside story." - Terry Fallis, two-time winner of the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour

 

Book cover (inside)

"With a high sense of humor and deep knowledge of the characteristics of Egyptian and Canadian cultures, Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein wrote a precious book about the two mentalities in the diversity frame. The writers took me smoothly to the depth of both cultures as they appeared in the behaviour, thinking, and feeling of the characters. The style, structure, and development of the action in this piece of fiction made me murmur: this intelligent way of writing is worth reading for its enjoyment and benefit." - Jamal Saeed, author of Yara's Spring and My Road from Damascus

News
08/06/2023
Take Me Back to Cairo Grabs #4 Spot on Hot New Releases

Best-selling author Pamela Paterson and Tarek Hussein are excited to announce their debut novel, Take Me Back to Cairo, a novel full of humour, culture clashes, and romance. Take Me Back to Cairo grabbed the #4 spot of Hot New Releases on Amazon prior to its publishing date of September 5, 2023.

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 09/2023
  • 978-1-7782304-3-1 B0CC5LY491
  • 205 pages
  • $11.95
Paperback Details
  • 09/2023
  • 978-1-7782304-2-4
  • 178 pages
  • $11.95
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