The Last Watchman of Old Cairo, on sale 10 April 2018, reminded me of a fresh baked loaf of challah. Three entwined stories made for a rich story, steeped in symbolism and at the end of the day just something you want to consume and enjoy.
Mr. Lukas managed to really grab my attention with the first scene, dunking his reader into the waters of the Nile c. 1000CE. By the end of the chapter I had my phone balanced on my knee ready to google, when suddenly the time and tone shifted: Berkeley, 2000CE. Five chapters in the year 1000, five in 1897 and six in the year 2000 was more than enough for me to become invested in each storyline.
Of the three stories you follow, the thread that keeps them bound together is the al-Raqb family- the family of every watchman of the Ibn Ezra synagogue in Cairo. The book opens with the first watchman, Ali, and ends with the son of the last watchman wrestling with his family's past. In between the old and new are stitched together patiently by twin sisters and patrons of the historical realm who are assisting Cambridge University in collecting historical documents.
The theme of endlessness, of chains of descendants, chains of decision making, and the passage of rituals, secrets, and time all meld together in this mesmerizing story. Lukas did very well in creating relatable, flawed characters you can empathize with and an environment that leaves you wanting to know more.
I'd recommend this book wholeheartedly to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, a good read, or even someone who is interested in Egypt or Cairo.
See you next time
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