"Profound, enthralling. . . . Fiercely poetic. . . . Soueif paints a picture of a people who realized, suddenly and collectively, the scope of their own potential." --San Francisco Chronicle

"There are many records of the Egyptian revolution, but Cairo takes us on a more intimate journey. . . . [Soueif] speaks of her own story but also speaks for thousands, perhaps even millions, of other Cairenes." --The Guardian (London)

"Compelling. . . . [Soueif] possesses a revolutionary's zeal but also an artist's regret." --Los Angeles Times

"Recounts with joy and anguish the revolution that toppled the Mubarak regime--the hope raised by a new generation demanding freedom." --New York Post

"[Cairo] takes the reader to the front lines of the conflict in the streets with vignettes worthy of a novel. . . . Soueif's ability to render grand events in human terms and put Egypt's current conflict into historical and global context makes Cairo a book that demands attention." --The Christian Science Monitor

"Soueif is a political analyst and commentator of the best kind." --London Review of Books

"Offers an invaluable window into the mind-set of a large proportion of the engaged Egyptian population. . . . A testimony to the dramatic cultural shift that has taken place in Egypt and elsewhere in the Arab world in public attitudes toward power." --Bookforum

"Bursts of lyricism, poetry and love illuminate the factual account and political commentary, and it works beautifully." --The Independent (London)

"Heartfelt, courageous, and hopeful. . . . An intimate portrait of an extraordinary city at an extraordinary moment in its history." --Evening Standard (London)

"The author captures beautifully her anguish at Cairo's degradation during the years of dictatorship and Mubarak's calculated sowing of division among the people. . . . With the recent violent eruptions in the country, Soueif's work as an eloquent witness is a work in progress." --Publishers Weekly

"Soueif offers both an extraordinary eyewitness document and a sense of the historical import of the revolution. . . . A deeply personal, engaged tribute by the far-flung Egyptian novelist and journalist as she returned to witness the revolution in her hometown." --Kirkus Reviews

"As an active participant and a keenly observant chronicler of the impassioned rebellion, [Soueif's] firsthand account offers insight into the heady days of the original revolution and its tumultuous aftermath. . . . Interweaves affectionate and peaceful memories of Cairo, Egypt, and her family into the fiery narrative. As Egyptian citizens continue to live the revolution, she provides a uniquely personal perspective on both the events of 2011 and the ensuing years." --Booklist