What gives a person their identity - their genealogy and their family history. Does one play a more significant role than another? What is they are conflicting ideals. All this will be dealt with and leave you to answer for yourself (in a good way).

It took me about 30% of this book, a good 100 pages or more to really 'get' The Last Watchman of Old Cairo. At first it felt very disjointed. There were multiple timelines and people but none of them were meshing in my brain and I couldn't figure out how each generation was related to the next as we jumped around. However, there is a point at which it just clicked for me. I hope for other readers that point will come earlier than it took for me as this is a wonderful story once you get into it.

Plot
It's all about a scroll. That's not clear from the beginning but if the One Ring in LOTR is the plot driver then the Ezra Scroll is the plot driver in Michael David Lukas historical story. Where is the scroll? Who has the scroll? Is it magical? etc. These questions are asked over and over again by each of our characters in all the different generations that this story spans. There's other things happening as well. Lots of hiding, sneaking, and even some minor spying. But for the most part this is a story about protecting a synagogue and it's treasures (of which the scroll is purported to be one).

Characters
The two older ladies in this book are my absolute favourite. They are not a part of the line of watchmen that we follow in the other timelines; but they are just as adamant about protecting and 'watching' over the previous documents than any of our watchmen are. Additionally I felt like I got the most out of their analysis of the situations and things that may have happened. Without them in the middle I do not know that I would have been able to understand all the nuances of this book as easily. While all the other characters are men I don't think this is a gender bias (as I am female); but instead just the overall way the ladies can look at the larger situation helped to see the whole picture at a different level than our watchmen can see it.

Forgiveness
There is an interesting tone throughout The Last Watchman of Cairo that I was not expecting. This is actually a book about forgiveness and knowing when it's okay to say a mistake is tolerable. Our characters make lots of mistakes in Cairo and many of them are forgiven in some way or another. This was a piece of the story I didn't expect based on the blurb or the beginning. It was nice to see such a clear morale in the book that didn't have anything to do with revenge or vengeance; but merely with what a measure of a man (or woman) might be. If they are a worthy person then they should ultimately be worthy of forgiveness.

Writing Style
The best part of this book isn't even the exotic (to me) setting of Cairo (which I learned lots about!), nor is it the religious 'clash' between the Jews and the Muslims; instead it is the style of author Lukas. There is a melody, pace and cadence to Lukas' writing that is stunning. Once I got into the story and was really pulled into the events and characters I realized that part of my struggle to get into the book was to find the beat that Lukas used to write it. Similar to some poetry where you need to understand the cadence of a poem for it to sound right. I don't know at what point I realized it was a gorgeous and unique style of writing; all I know is that by the end I was sad to let the beat go.

Overall
The Last Watchman of Cairo was a truly magical book, even if it held little to no actual magic. There is a gentleness with which Lukas has set-up the religious clash and dangers of Cairo (in each time period) that contributes to the way we view the characters and actions. If you have interest in reading about a different history than you've probably ever heard, in a city that is not often written about; then I definitely recommend this book. Lukas has really captured a story that intrigued me; and the best part of it all, much of the story is true! I do love these historical books that have nuggets of truth in them and where the authors have spent time to research and understand the place, people and times that they are writing about. I will be on the lookout for more stories from Lukas and I hope they are just as unique and interesting as this one is.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

What an interesting read! The narrator is a student at Berkeley, the son of a Jewish mother and Muslim father. One day he receives a mysterious package and the roller coaster narrative begins. Told through the perspective of several generations and 3 different time periods, the story is cleverly crafted.
The al-Raqb family has been the watchmen over the Ibn Ezra Synagogue in Cairo for generation upon generation. They carefully guard the building and its environs and the mystery that surround the sacred text, the Ezra Scroll. The reader will undoubtedly learn much at the same time he/she is completely intrigued by the story unfolding.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is a story about a young man called Joseph who receives a package after the death of his father which carries a lot of mystery around it and makes Joseph wonder why was this package sent to him by his father as well as pose a question: what family secrets hide in it. We have three storylines the first one is about the first watchman called Ali al-Raqb set thousand years earlier where we learn more about sacred texts which were guarded, the second one set in 1897 where we follow two twin sisters, Margaret and Agnes on their journey to uncover many secrets revolving around sacred texts disappearing and finally we have Joseph and his journey to find out more about his family history and the meaning behind the package he’s received. All of their stories are linked and each chapter alternates between them.

What first caught my eye is the gay main character which I am so grateful for. Joseph was a very intelligent character whose journey through Cairo made me read on and on. Usually I always favour the LGBTQ+ character in books but the characters who warmed my heart were Margaret and Agnes – both of them were brilliant and I loved their personalities. I love how the story progressed when it comes to Ali, how he found a better place for himself as a watchman and found purpose in life. The Last Watchman of Old Cairo offered a lot of history which I appreciate and enjoyed reading. I feel like Joseph’s story could’ve been fleshed out better because even though it was interesting it felt flat compared to the other two.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo is a book about a man called Joseph who after the death of his father receives a mysterious package addressed to him [sent by his father] which opens up a world of unanswered questions and family secrets.

I would like to thank Penguin Random House International for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions written are my own and weren’t influenced by anything.

Incredible, thought provoking story that takes place in 3 different time periods with a mysterious document that links them all. There are lots of themes to think about and discuss: religion, family, love.....The author is a wordsmith and paints beautiful pictures of time and place in Cairo. This is a book to savor!

This is a beautifully written story about the city of Cairo and its Jewish community. The story unfolds in three alternating timelines/ chapters. A thousand years in the past: A Muslim, Ali al-Rahq is entranced by his forbidden love for a Jewish girl. Through acts of compassion by Jewish leaders, instead of being shunned or worse, stoned, he becomes the first watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue. In his charge, among the thousands of documents in the synagogue's genizah, or storage area, is the Ezra Scroll, possibly the most perfect Torah ever created.

1897: spinster twins from Britain, Agnes and Margaret, both antiquity scholars, with the help of a Cambridge University professor, set about exporting the synagogue's documents for posterity after reports of documents disappearing. A time when looting antiquities was acceptable behavior. Some of my favorite scenes involve these sisters and their twin-like responses to one another.

The present: an American grad student from Berkeley goes to Cairo in search of this father's history as the last of the watchman of ibn Ezra Synagogue. following his father's death, a clue to his past arrives by mail: a mysterious shred of a document and a note "Hope you can use this.”

The question linking all these is the Ezra scroll and its fate.

This is not a novel for those liking action thrillers but a reflective and fascinating page-turner about the changes in Egypt's politics and religion over thousands of years. Delicately woven through the tale are the things that divide us: forbidden love, tradition, and the formidable magic and power of religion. Through the author's gentle nudging, the story guides us toward better understanding and tolerance. Love, family, and hope for a time when relationships between Muslims and Jews might find an equilibrium.

I found it ironic to finish reading this just as Israel and America callously celebrated the new American Embassy in Jerusalem.

We have a long way to go.

I really enjoyed this novel. It spans multiple generations of "watchmen" from the same family in Cairo, Egypt. I quickly became engrossed in the story of Muslim and Jewish culture, English antiquity collectors, and a coming of age story. I couldn't believe how quickly I read it. It was a beautiful read.

Written by Michael David Lukas, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo tells the story of beautiful interactions between the Jewish and Muslim communities of Egypt one thousand years ago, then it shows the change in climate as the years pass.

First we are introduced to the famous Ezra Synagogue when a Muslim orphan, Ali ibn al-Marwani becomes the night watchman. We follow the generations of his dependents who stay loyal to the synagogue and in generation after generation there is a watchman who is decended from Ali bin al-Marwani. Each watchman has a story which is learned by the current descendent, Joseph, a Berkeley graduate student. Joseph is the son of the last watchman of the Ezra Synagogue. He fell in love with a Jewish girl and follwed her to Paris, but this was a match that could not last, so Joseph, the son has been raised in America by his Jewish mother, with very little connection to his Egyptian father. When his father dies, Joseph receives a package that takes him across the world to Cairo. He reconnects with this father’s brother and family. He searches for the story of his farther’s life.

Intertwined with the history of our fictional character is the true story that surrounds the Ben Ezra Synagogue. This famous synagogue has sometimes also been referred to as the El Geniza Synagogue. This is the geniza that was discovered by the English twin sisters, Agnes Lewis and Margaret Gibson. They were very helpful to Solomon Schecter in acquiring ancient scrolls and papers that were stored in the synagogue’s storage attic.
A geniza was usually a storage area that was used for discarded religious papers that Jewish people would not throw away. Today these papers are buried in a grave in the cemetery, but at that time they were just left in an attic. This geniza had a treasure trove of documents that are now housed in Cambridge, England.

This is a wonderful story that shows how people could get along and work together between different religious beliefs . It is also a delightful way to read the story of the sisters, Agnes and Margaret and how they worked to bring the contents of the Geniza back to England for the pure love of history and study. The sisters were not Jewish but strongly wanted to make sure the papers were not sold not he black market when they were discovered.

Lukas's novel tells the story of a synagogue, its documents, and the people who protect and want to preserve them, across three distinct time periods that span several hundred years. In doing so, Lukas shows the strong links across many generations, while playing out relations between the synagogue's Jewish leaders and the family of Muslim watchmen. Lukas develops his characters and their motivations effectively. The novel is a delight to read, and offers a hopeful vision of humans interacting with one another as humans and not categories.

I learned a few things, and am trying to read more diversely, and this book helped me to do that. It was a pleasing narrative, flowed well, and had an intriguing story. Since it's not likely I will ever be able to go to Egypt for real, I will settle for armchair traveling. The scenery was described wonderfully and I found it to be immersive.

The Last Watchman of Old Cairo by Michael David Lukas is a story about family stories. One story being told is that of Ali, a Muslim orphan, who in about 1000 AD becomes the first watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue in Cairo, built at the site where the infant Moses was taken from the Nile. Another story being told is of Ali’s descendant who lives in modern time. Joseph is the son of a Jewish mother and a Muslim father. His parents divorced when he was young and he went with his mother eventually settling in America while his father stayed in Egypt. Though he would visit his father when he was older there is much he doesn’t know about his father’s side of his family. Joseph’s father has recently died and he receives a package from a friend of his father’s which intrigues him because he does not understand what it is and why it was sent to him. Joseph goes to Egypt to obtain more information about this package. In Egypt he learns more about his father and his family. The last story being told is of twin older British women scholars in Egypt in the late 1800’s seeking to transport historical Jewish documents to Cambridge. These three stories are woven together in a way that shows how each generation builds on the one that came before it.

This is a slow moving story that shows that mercy is more powerful than justice. Forgiveness is greater than revenge. I also really loved learning about Egypt history between Muslims and Jews.

If you enjoy books about families, distant times and places, a little mystery and a little magic I think you will enjoy this book.

I posted a 3-star review without comment--as much as I really wanted to love this book, I just didn't.
Thanks anyway.

*The Last Watchman of Old Cairo: A Novel* by Michael David Lukas is a look at three different periods in time. It shows us the history of the first Watchman of an old Synagogue believed to house the mystical Ezra Scroll, a perfect copy of the Torah, within it's walls. We are also told about two twin sisters who want to preserve the old papers found in the attic of tbe Synagoge and perhaps find the Ezra Scroll as well. There is also the modern story of a young Muslim Jewish man, son of the last watcher of the Synagoge, who travels from California to Cairo to uncover thesecrets and history of his family.

I fell in love with this book and was drawn in from the beginning. I liked how all the storylines came together and we are left wondering even after the ending of the book. I've always loved Egypt and this book pictures it beautifully. I wouldrecommend this book to fans of historical fiction.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

“The Oracle of Stamboul”, written by Michael David Lukas — published in 2011—
his debut....was sooooo wonderful- I was speechless to express how much I loved his novel.
It’s still a very special book to me - one I read with my daughter...with so many fond memories. I remember the story as if I read it yesterday.
The writing is gorgeous.
It was a joy to meet Michael years back and hear him talk about his book.

I learned of ‘this’ book yesterday - ( thank You Netgalley - Random House - and Goodreads friend Esil)...and was excited to receive a copy.
I spent my day reading “The Last Watchman of Cairo”. What a delight!!! Michael still has that ‘it’ quality I love ....
His prose feels effortless - while transporting us to a luxurious world of the past.
I cared about the characters - hanging onto the story - and feeling their emotions.

From the start - I was curious about the title. There was mystery for me about the word “Watchman”. I knew there was religious meaning and symbolism tied heavily to this word. I was wondering how ‘the Watchman’ would be used.
We soon learn it’s a very high honor to be a Watchman. The Watchman described the work of a prophet among God’s people. They have the role to warn and teach. If a threat appeared- a warning/ message would spread to the community.

Joseph, a grad student at Berkeley, often dreaded his last name: ‘al-Raqb’, while growing up in the United States. Not even teachers pronounced it correctly. I could relate - teachers had a hard time with my name as a child too - Elyse -They often mis- read the spelling and called me Elsie....at a time when ‘Elsie-the-Cow’ was a popular TV commercial. Wasn’t fun getting laughed at. So, I knew how Joseph felt.
But.......
the summer when Joseph was 11 years old - he visited his father in Cairo - an Arab. His mother was from Egypt, also but was Jewish. His mother came to the states in the 50’s and married Bill. Bill and Joseph’s mother raised him in Santa Fe.
The summer when Joseph visited his father - was the first time he felt proud to have his last name - ‘al-Raqb’.
There was a Beautiful touching moment in the book between Joseph, 11-years-old at the time—in aw of his dad. His father said:
“Nearly a thousand years ago our family has lived on the Nile. The river is in our veins”.
“We are watchers. Our name al-Raqb, it means ‘the watcher’, he who watches. It is the forty-third name of God”. Joseph was so proud of his dad that day and of his name.
Joseph, for different reasons, never went back to stay with his father over the summers in Cairo. He received a package - while in grad school at Berkeley - and news of his father’s death. Joseph wanted to understand the message his dad sent him: minimal information to go on to start: a parchment paper with Hebrew on one side and Arabic on the other.

Two stories are weaved together. Joseph traces his family history back to the ancient Ibn Ezra synagogue in Cairo.
The novel begins with the first Watchman - a Muslim-( Ali), Right away we see the sacred responsibility has and to rise to meet the challenge - wanting to demonstrate he is trustworthy.

In the middle of the book - we are introduced to twins Agnes and Margaret - Biblical students - from Cambridge- they travel to Cairo searching for archives - stored away in the Jewish sacred storage called ‘The Genizah’....that have been possibly hidden away - the Ezra Scroll- with all good intentions of bringing it back to Cambridge.

I love the purity - wholesomeness - and storytelling of this novel. David captures beauty through vivid descriptions—- from splashing waters in the river - ointment that smelled like opium and chili peppers - smells of Kosher meals - warmth of Kittens mewing- moments of solitude- children playing in the street -etc.

I enjoyed this slim book very much - quick to read — but I can’t resist saying - I’m still PASSIONATELY in LOVE “The Oracle in Stamboul” — yet — I did love this book too. I’ll read anything by this Michael David Lukas with pleasure!

Thank You Random House, Netgalley, and Michael David Lukas

I was waiting for this book to be published and was lucky enjoy to receive an ARC from Netgalley and the pubisher. I'm going to get it on audiobook and listen while doing house work.

I loved the mixing of old Egypt, colonial Egypt and modern Egypt, woven together like a tapestry. “A fragmented account of fathers and sons, cousins and strangers, grief, forgiveness and forbidden love. This lovely novel brings to life a family of guardians and their stories.

Told in alternating chapters, "The Last Watchman of Old Cairo: A Novel" takes place in three different time periods tied together by the following: Cairo’s Ibn Ezra synagogue, its geniza, and the Ezra scroll.

It starts in 1040 C.E. with young Ali who is hired to be the watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue and goes on to describe his connection to the Ezra scroll and the geniza. I found Ali’s tale the most appealing of the three stories.

The second narrative takes place around 1896 and describes how two Scottish sisters, in conjunction with Dr. Solomon Schechter, acquired the main portion of the geniza for Cambridge University. Their story started off interesting but got bogged down in too many extraneous details.

Jumping forward in time to the year 2000, Joseph learns of the death of his father in Cairo. Several months later he receives a package from his father containing “an ancient-looking piece of paper.” He goes off to Cairo to learn the meaning of this item and to learn more about his father, the eponymous last watchman of the title. Ultimately, Joseph learns that he has a connection that goes back in time to Ali and the geniza.

Towards the end, I felt that there were too many editorial expositions by both the Scottish sisters and by Joseph. I started to lose interest in the story somewhat at this point. All things considered, I found the ending somewhat contrived and disappointing.

The beginning of the book I had to struggle through, but am glad I did. Historical fiction, but researched to add some facts about the watchmen of the synagogue in Cairo. Several generations involved. The last of which brought the story to life,. A young Jewish girl grew attached to a Muslim boy. She moved to the States, but wrote to him frequently and as they grew up she declared her love.. An impossible match, he was a watchman and she came from a well to do family. But one short visit in Paris led to a son. When the father dies, the son travels to Cairo and learns about his father, , lots of intrigue and mysterious happenings result In a novel worth reading.

Three stories in three different time periods weave together to tell a tale that encompasses Judaism, Islam, homophobia, history, and so on. This uses the popular literary device of a legacy- in this case a scroll sent to Joseph. Some of the narrative, and some of the characters were more interesting (and likable) than others. I'm not sure why this didn't resonate with me as it's got all the elements of a good read and it's well written but somehow it left me feeling manipulated. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Last Watchman of Cairo tells its story via three loosely related threads and timelines. In contemporaneous America, the Muslim Egyptian father of Joseph – the last watchman referenced in the title -- has died, and he has had a friend deliver to Joseph a keepsake without explanation. Joseph, raised exclusively by his Jewish Egyptian (by birth) mother in the US, had a cordial relationship with his father, at least until his father learned Joseph is gay. They didn’t have a falling out, but had communicated only by occasional phone call for several years prior to his dad’s demise. Nonetheless, Joseph heads to Egypt with the ostensible goal of looking up a friend of his dad’s and obtaining more information regarding the keepsake. Alternating chapters also tell the story of twin late-middle-aged very British women scholars in Egypt in approximately 1897 seeking to transport a significant collection of ostensibly important historical Jewish documents to Cambridge, and, finally, the story that takes place in approximately 1022 A.D. – the story of the original watchman of the Ibn Ezra Synagogue, Ali ibn al-Marwani, an ancestor of Joseph’s.

As is often the case with multiple timeline stories, one story is far more interesting and successful than the other or others. In this case, the ancient tale of Ali is captivating and Ali is an engaging protagonist. The descriptions of Cairo during his time are fascinating. One can feel the heat, the dust, the neighborhoods, and visualize the Synagogue in detail. His dialogue and his story, and that of the characters that interact with him, comes across largely authentic.

On the other hand, with respect to the twin sisters, comments attributed to them regarding the lack of good tea in Cairo, and references to the documents as “ours” and the importance of removing the document set to Cambridge in order to preserve them from thieving locals was sufficiently off-putting, even for the times, that I hurried through chapters devoted to their adventure with increasing speed as the book progressed. The side story regarding Dr. Schechter and his youthful assistant, for example, was a waste of time and detracted from this portion of the story.

And Joseph? He was neither engaging nor believable. When he finally learns the truth of his parents’ relationship via decades-old handwritten letters they exchanged, preserved by his father – a moment that in many another novel would have had great emotional impact – the reader feels nothing because Joseph feels nothing. The descriptions of present-day Cairo in his section lack any energy or flavor for one of the world’s most fascinating cities. Hence, since his is the framing story and Cairo is nigh unto missing from his story’s telling, it’s difficult for a reader to be fully engaged in the work, as a whole.

So, in the end, this novel is partly successful and adequately written. I found it ultimately disappointing, but it may well appeal to other readers seeking historical fiction written by a Western author and set in Cairo.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an ecopy of this novel.