Shelf Life | Litsy

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

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When Nadia Wassef, her sister, and her friend opened a bookstore, Diwan, in Cairo in 2002, they were fighting an uphill battle. Egypt was living under a corrupt government, culture was languishing, and books were a luxury, not a necessity.
With wit, creativity, and massive determination, they were able to take their small store and turn it into 10 successful locations with a large fan base.
Finished 3/2/2022

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Sapphire

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

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This was different from other books about bookstores and I loved it!

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Sapphire

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

Food affirms, or disrupts, marital bliss: a couple‘s decision on whether to have their customary Friday lunch with the wife‘s or husband‘s family is a familiar conflict. Nihal always diagnosed incompatible couples by saying that each came from a different dining table.

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Sapphire

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

Men are defined by what they do, and women, by their intimate relationships.

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Megabooks

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

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Do you know the story of your favorite bookstore? Nadia tells the story of starting the independent Cairo bookstore, Diwan. They elevated books from being state-run to symbols of independent thought. Using the theme of several sections, from Egyptian history to cooking, she shares the joys and trials of running the store. We learn about her life, but the memoir stays focused more on the store and its books, employees and customers. Enjoyable! 👍🏻

Megabooks Get ready! #Egypt #ReadingAfrica2022 @BarbaraBB @Librarybelle #FoodAndLit @Butterfinger @Texreader @Catsandbooks #Booked2022 #AuthorBornInAfrica @Cinfhen @BarbaraTheBibliophage @4thhouseontheleft #TitleOfBoardGame #pop22 @KarenUK @Kalalalatja @Laughterhp @Cortg @RaeLovesToRead #nonfiction22 #ImARuleBreaker @Riveted_Reader_Melissa 3y

Megabooks I think that‘s every challenge I‘m doing but author a month!! 😂😂 (edited) 3y

squirrelbrain Yay for the challenge slaying! 3y

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Cortg That‘s a lot of challenges! Keeping up with these would make my head spin. Great job! 3y

Librarybelle I‘ve wondered about this one…stacking! 3y

Butterfinger That is my kind of book. 3y

Cinfhen Awesomeness ♥️🙌🏻 3y

KarenUK Sooooooo many prompts!!! 💕 3y

Megabooks @squirrelbrain when I saw everything it could complete, I was so happy I got it last year! 😁 3y

Megabooks @Cortg thanks! I couldn‘t keep up with them all of it weren‘t for the storygraph. 3y

Megabooks @Librarybelle it was really enjoyable, light nonfiction. 👍🏻 3y

Megabooks @Butterfinger it was a pleasure to read! 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen I thought you‘d a appreciate all the cross prompt wins! 😁💜 3y

Megabooks @KarenUK yes!!! So glad I saved this one. 💜 3y

Sapphire That sounds interesting! 3y

Megabooks @Sapphire it was! 3y

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shawnmooney

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

https://youtu.be/ub5CcT8O860

A playlist of all episodes in the Bite-sized Book Chat series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf

Chat #1: Gina from the Seattle area
Gina‘s BookTube channel, Gina Stanyer Books: https://youtube.com/c/GinaStanyerBooks

A Place to Hang the Moon by Kate Albus

Chat #2: with Olivia from Auckland

Things Are Against Us by Lucy Ellmann

Cinfhen

shawnmooney Chat #3: with Adiba from London

Love, If That's What It Is by Marijke Schermer
Hester Velmans (Translator)

Chat #4: with Cindy from Israel ❤️

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller by Nadia Wassef
3y

Cinfhen Oh, geez!!! I had SO MUCH FUN chatting with you, Shawn but I think my 15 seconds of fame is officially over xx 😘 3y

squirrelbrain Love this Cindy! @Cinfhen The book sounds great - added to my TBR list. I also have the Ellman on my physical TBR shelf, so really need to get to that…. 3y

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Cinfhen Thanks @squirrelbrain @shawnmooney is a FABULOUS host…he draws out the best in every interview!!! 3y

LeahBergen Well, I‘m definitely dashing over to YouTube to hear your review, @Cinfhen ! 👏👏 3y

Cinfhen @LeahBergen PLEASE don‘t xx I should have followed your lead and stayed firmly off camera. It‘s way to easy sounding like an idiot 🤪 3y

LeahBergen @Cinfhen Oh, you did NOT. It was wonderful! And yes, I‘m a coward … a very awkward coward. 🤣 3y

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JoyBlue

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

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I especially liked how this memoir dove into the historical and cultural aspects of the author‘s experience and growth as an Egyptian female bookstore owner. Read my review here: https://debbybrauer.org/#shelf-life-chronicles-of-a-cairo-boo...

#ShelfLife #NetGalley #DreamscapeMedia

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Cinfhen

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef

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#AudioARC #NetGalley If you ever harbored a secret desire to own a bookstore; and honestly who hasn‘t, this memoir will satisfy your curiosity and grab your full attention. Nadia Wassef shares her years co-owning & operating a bookstore/ cafe chain in Cairo. Diwan was founded in 2002 by Wassef, her sister and a family friend at a time when Egyptian women were mostly confined to housework and motherhood. 👇🏼

Cinfhen I really enjoyed reading the ladies business models, their choices in stocking book titles and their desire to succeed and empower more women. Interestingly Nadia‘s own life helped to dictate what books found their way unto Diwan‘s shelves. I really loved that Nadia Wassef shares titles that she enjoyed reading over the years from classics to cookbooks. The audio narration was wonderful. I highly recommend this delightful book @LeahBergen (edited) 3y

Well-ReadNeck I loved this one as well!!! 3y

Lissa00 I‘m reading this one right now too! I‘m really enjoying it. 3y

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TrishB Sounds interesting 👍🏻 3y

Megabooks #stacked! 3y

Cinfhen I was surprised by how enjoyable it was @Well-ReadNeck @Lissa00 @TrishB @Megabooks Now all I want is a Diwan bag 😁 3y

LeahBergen Great review! I‘ll be reading this one. 👍 3y

Cinfhen It‘s deeper than I initially thought @Leahbear I think you‘ll enjoy 3y

Centique @Cinfhen I think you mixed up your Leahs there! 😜😜 @LeahBergen 3y

LeahBergen @Centique 🤣🤣 3y

Cinfhen Ooopssssie @LeahBergen @Centique xxx maybe @Leahbear will like it too 😉 3y

shawnmooney Hello girlfriend, I‘m getting caught up on your recent posts and this book sounds very much up my alley! I think this should be the occasion for your debut appearance on my Bite-sized Book Chats - what do you think? I think you know about this series – the playlist is here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLU-61cZp1pQdBH5V0Zb9q-2ujl4PY8nhf. 3y

shawnmooney Have a think, and get back to me OK? Oh and by the way, I never answered your comment – your entry for the book giveaway has definitely been registered! 😍 3y

Cinfhen I‘ve just been watching your Bite-Sized Book Chats @shawnmooney They are DELIGHTFUL 🥰I‘d LOVE to make my debut on your channel ~ however my daughter is getting married in 12 days!!!!! So I‘m PRETTY STRESSED but let‘s circle back end of October xxx 3y

Cinfhen And this is a great book to promote @shawnmooney !!! 3y

shawnmooney Have a fabulous time is the radiant, dropdead gorgeous mother of the bride and I‘ll touch base with you in early November – how‘s that? 👰💕💕 3y

Cinfhen Yessssss @shawnmooney let‘s chat in early November xx my headspace should be clear by then😘 3y

shawnmooney @Cinfhen I believe I have waited until the time you said you‘d be ready to talk turkey on this one – can we talk further about scheduling you and I on Zoom? We should probably take this off-line. Do you still use Voxer? If so, send me a message there (shawnthebookmaniac). Or drop me an email at shawnmooneyinjapan@gmail.com 😍😍 3y

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Cinfhen

Shelf Life: Chronicles of a Cairo Bookseller | Nadia Wassef