If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English – Noor Naga

If an Egyptian Cannot Speak English by Noor Naga is an experimental literary novel set in Cairo in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. The story follows an Egyptian-American woman who returns to Cairo to reconnect with her roots and an Egyptian man from the village of Shobrakheit. As their lives become intertwined, the novel explores identity, language, class, cultural belonging, power, and the complicated relationship between Egypt and the Egyptian diaspora. Told through alternating perspectives and an unconventional narrative structure, the novel offers a sharp and thought-provoking exploration of who gets to tell a story and how language shapes our understanding of identity and home.