The City Always Wins

A breakneck history of the revolution that began in Tahrir Square, this debut novel from filmmaker Hamilton covers the chaotic period between Egypt’s 2011 elections and the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood’s government by the military. The story is told from the perspective of Khalil, a podcaster who chronicles the uprising through recording demonstrations and the stories of those martyred in the struggle. As events spiral out of control, he is forced to “record, splice, upload. No time for artistry,” and as protests in Tahrir degenerate into assaults against women and curfews are declared across the nation, Khalil bemoans that interest is waning outside of Egypt for “the withering spectacle” the revolution has become. Once General Sisi takes power, Khalil is flabbergasted that the man he calls a “black hole of charisma” has turned Cairo into “a military-themed fairground of Sisi sandwiches and fridge magnets.” Much of Hamilton’s book moves at a blistering pace, and he proves a worthy guide to the notable events captured here. But like its narrator, Hamilton’s book is enervated by rallies dwindling to “fifty, sixty people where once there were ten thousand,” and later chapters are prolonged by Khalil’s musings on how Egypt has become “an island floating away from reality.” The book is at its best when recording the events of the revolution, rather than when it serves as an exploration of Khalil’s character and relationships. (June)