مجموعة من الأصدقاء يجمعهم عيش حياة مزدوجة، بين مناصب مرموقة يشغلونها صباحًا، وأفعالهم المليئة بالعبث والهزل ليلًا في عوامة فوق النيل.
قراءته سهلة وممتعة، مليء بالرمزية والحوارات العميقة.

Lines of philosophical thought often have the potential for a descent into apathetic doubt and despair. Mahfouz flirts along the edge of this boundary with a cast of comfortable, middle class professionals who've spent their evenings getting high together for years. An idealistic newcomer serves as a foil to shake up the complacency and challenge their beliefs, paralleling the social changes happening in their country at the time.

It's well written as a pleasing mix of critical commentary and comedic farce (with layers and layers of potential metaphor). In turn the characters, their lifestyles, ideology and perhaps the book itself are gently mocked. It's not easy to tell what Mahfouz really thinks or believes in. This is surely deliberate considering his skill and experience as a writer. Perhaps more than anything he wants the reader (and more generally, people) to reflect, examine their own lives and think for themselves.

3.5 stars and wavering about whether to round up or down.

Dostoyevsky for arabs

Could not make myself complete it

"إن المتلفت لا يصل".

"لا تسيئي الظن بسكوته إذا لم يحادثك كثيرا فهو يهيم في الملكوت!".

"لا يجوز الحكم على الناس في أوقات فراغهم".

"لا جدوى من الجدية إذا لم تتغلغل جذورها هي المرأة التي هي أم المستقبل".

أصل المتاعب، مهارة قرد