I really enjoyed this! Thank you to Netgalley for my review copy. This is a really well written historical fiction set in Egypt and I felt like I learnt a lot about the history of Egypt as well as being entertained by the story.

This is a great debut novel. I learned a lot about Egypt. I am iffy with historical fiction but liked this one. Thanks for the review copy.

Very atmospheric, obviously set in Egypt. The ending was a bit disappointing but to be honest, it was sad the whole way through (my favorite) I actually really enjoyed it!

I was excited to read the Oud Player of Cairo, as Egypt has not been a common setting for the historical fiction I have read in the past. Attia’s debut had me in love with Laila, a young woman with little desire to fulfill the gender roles expected of the time. I was on an emotional rollercoaster through Laila’s life, truly feeling for her life’s highs and lows. This book keep me enthralled with the amazing characters and beautifully described aspects of Egyptian culture.

This historical fiction is set in Egypt between 1932 and 1956 straddling the colonial years, independence, and the Egyptian revolution. Laila is the younger daughter of Selma and Kamal Abd El Malak. From the start, Laila and Kamal, an oud player, forged a special bond that only strengthened as the years go by. Laila shared her father’s passion for music and became his willing pupil. As a young child, he would take her with him on his performances, much to her mother’s dismay - it wasn’t appropriate. Kamal discovered early on that Laila had a beautiful voice and encouraged her to perform with him, which she loved. But soon Laila’s personal world and the larger world around her collapses, taking her life in a different direction. I enjoyed the historical, social, and cultural backdrop, the family relationships and especially Laila’s close relationship with her father. I also appreciated the relationship between Christians and Muslims, who lived together in community, with traditions and rituals observed by people of both religions related more to culture rather than religion. At important holidays Muslims and Christians would cook and share celebratory foods with each other. I liked the storyline, but felt the first third of the book was the most engaging, the second third dragged a bit, then it picked up as it concluded. Overall I rated it a 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. This debut novel by Jasmine Attia is a good start and I’d be interested in reading her next book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Attia utilized strong language and vivid descriptions to draw the reader into the world of Egypt in the mid-20th century and into Laila’s life. The book occurs over a time period of many years, from Laila’s birth (in 1932) until 1956 when she is 24. Doing the math now makes the life and stories of this character so much deeper and more meaningful as she survived so much at such a young age. Her life is beautifully crafted and flawed and torturous and yet Laila still carries with her a hope and optimism that offsets the brutality of her world.
One thing I personally was disappointed by was how much of the book is spoiled in the description or preview. I didn’t do the math but I felt that around ⅔ of the book was just a more detailed version of the description with only one or two surprises. I still thoroughly enjoyed the book and the story but I would’ve enjoyed knowing less ahead of time. I also felt that the ending was rather rushed and that more happened in the last chunk of pages than the entire beginning of the book. I wish it had been more drawn out or detailed as everything happened very quickly and then, just like that, the book was over.

I waivered between 3 and 4 stars, prob a 3.75 as it was at times a touch slow, or predictable. At the same time- An interesting and heartfelt book, unusual in its setting in Egypt. Following a young women Laila raised from girlhood by a musician/oud player father who recognizes her vocal talent, and over-rides traditional roles training as her mother prefers. Sisterhood, Love and Marriage, Mother- daughter, Community are all part of this telling. After her father's death and through her coming of age, the clashes with gender roles, economic class, the power of British presence, right into a revolution in MId 20th C is a setting less visited in fiction by and about women. Fascinating, visually descriptive, and often sad.

This was very well written and very interesting and I enjoyed every moment of it. I hope to see more from this author.

“Laila was love and poetry and strength. Laila was mystery and resilience. Laila was night and the distant brilliant stars in it.”

The Oud Player of Cairo tells the beautiful story of a father who guides his youngest daughter through the ways of the world as he would have parented a son. Additionally, his discovery of Laila’s unique voice leads her down a path in life which tends to conflict at times with tradition versus staying true to her heart. The result is Laila’s song – beginning to end, and all the ups and downs of the notes in between.

From the opening paragraph, I felt as though Jasmin Attia’s writing style was like listening to a song played on Laila’s father’s oud. She lyrically paints a picture as colorful as I can only imagine Cairo to be – from the smells of the food, the sounds of the music and the zaghoruta (which I actually had to look up!), to the vibrant fabrics worn by elite society resulting in a wonderfully crafted story throughout Laila’s life. I truly fell in love with Laila, her family and friends and felt pain with her struggles and happiness with her joys.

My initial reaction to the end was that I felt unsettled, but after sitting on it for a day and rereading it once again, I believe the ending of the story is perfection. If you like stories which integrate true character growth and self-awareness influenced heavily by historical events then The Oud Player of Cairo is a must read!

Thank you NetGalley and Schaffner Press for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an absolutely beautiful story. The book follows Laila, a young Egyptian girl, from birth to young adulthood. During Laila's birth, the world is held by WW2, and the book ends around the time of the Suez Crisis.
Laila, born into poverty, discovers from an early age that she has a talent for singing and her father, an Oud player, helps her to build and explore her talent.
As a young adult, Leila falls in love and marries what appears to be the man of her dreams. With the help of her wealthy new husband, her family is lifted from poverty. However, as soon as the honeymoon ends, so does the honeymoon period. Laila is left picking up the pieces of a marriage that she is now trapped in, and begins to find her own way in the world.

This book made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with the characters. I do think that it had the perfect ending, but if Jasmine Attia ever wrote a sequel, I would be the first in line to read it. I would highly recommend this book to anyone, as I strongly feel that it would make anyones life better.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

“The mind lied. It manipulated. It manufactured. But the heart made the music.”


The Oud Player of Cairo by Jasmin Attia is a stunning debut novel that takes readers on a journey to mid-20th century Egypt. Attia's writing is lyrical, heart-felt and vivid. The story follows Laila, a talented young Egyptian woman with a stunning voice who defies societal rules and expectations to become a musician like her father, the oud player.

What I loved most about this book was how Attia weaves Egyptian culture and traditions into the narrative. The characters were so well developed and adeptly crafted; they felt real and natural. Attia's storytelling is gripping and heart-wrenching, with the events leading up to the 1952 revolution serving as a backdrop (and ticking time-bomb) to Laila's personal journey.

One thing that I found particularly interesting about The Oud Player of Cairo was the way the author explored mid-20th century Cairene society. The cast of characters is made up of people from wildly different social classes, and the author does a great job of showing how these characters interact with one another.

The novel also tackles the different impacts of the 1952 revolution on the different social classes, covering the Nasser reforms, the socialism era, and the Jewish exodus.

The way everything came full circle at the end was just perfect (and sad). It left me feeling satisfied and fulfilled (and again, sad). This book was everything I love about historical fiction; informative, evocative, and heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

“She was in a way, touching death by leaving everything behind.”

Those final chapters had me in tears, whew.