[ book tip by Sara Mahmoud ] This 332 page novel is one of the best pieces of writing I have ever read. I enjoyed reading it for its fine style, plot, characters and language. I saw real Egyptian people walking, talking, eating, loving and fighting in this novel. I saw children playing marble and socket ball. I also smelt some Egyptian meals such as kishk (wheat pudding), Ta'miya (bean balls), Besara (bean pudding), Mombar (stuffed intestines) and Kofta (fried dumpling). I saw typically Egyptian clothes such as the water carriers wear (al seteh), men wear (galabya), women wear (melaya laf) and veil. The geography of the novel takes place in alleys such as (Darb Aggor, Bab-El-fotoh, Darb El Samakeen and Lemon and sugar street). I also heard about some old Egyptian traditions: men and women used to have a bath in public baths which were heated by burning rubbish.

I found this story talking about two main points: the patience of the poor and the philosophy of death.

The novel starts by a description of the poor place where the hero (the water carrier) and his family live. The hero (el saqqa) isn't satisfied with his job; however, he is patient and waits for Allah's justice to put him in the right place. His job is to carry water on his back and to roam around streets to give people their share of water. It is a very hard job. The Saqqa's ambition is to be the controller of the public tap. This position is held by another person who - in the saqqa's opinion - isn't worthy for. This saqqa has a young son. This young son helps his father in buying water. The son is very glad with his job as he considers himself a man. One day, the saqqa and his son are eating at a local restaurant when they see a poor man eating a large expensive meal without paying his bill. This poor man assumes that the owner of the restaurant - a strange strong old woman - will let him eat this meal free of charge. He is dreaming. When the woman discovers that he can't pay, she begins to insult him and orders her men to beat him. The man has been beaten almost to death when the kind-hearted saqqa intervenes and offers to pay for the poor man's meal. After this accident, the two men - the saqqa and the poor man (Shehata Afandy) - become friends. Shehata Afandy was working as an undertaker. At the end of the story, the undertaker dies and the saqqa takes his place. The saqqa finally believes in the philosophy of death and isn't afraid of death.

The novel is very enjoyable for those who love narration and are eager to see, hear and smell purely Egyptian culture.

[ book info ] Al Sibay, Youssef: Al Sakka Mat or The Water Carrier is Dead. ISBN: 977-01-4791-5.