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Title: Don't start here
Review: I was excited when my book group picked this title, since I'd never read Mahfouz and was curious about this Noble-prize-winning writer, who many friends admire. But the Journey of Ibn Fattouma was a stunning disappointment: it's a collection of simple morality tales that seem to me, at best good for children or young adults. The writing has none of the artistry of a Borges or Calvino, which was my hope: it feels flat-footed and plods aimlessly along from place to place, a bit like the protagonist of the fables. Indeed, for somebody interested in rich journeys to imaginary places, Calvino'sInvisible Citiesis a far, far better book, a masterpiece in comparison. If you haven't read Mahfouz before, I'd say this is the wrong place to start, at least based on my experience.
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