This book is very complex on many levels. The development of the characters is fascinating is that they change throughout the book and the reader's opinion of the characters changes. I would say that my favorite aspect of the book is the character development, they were alive to me and I found myself caring about them.
The description of Egyptian culture and society gives a depth to the story that would not be possible by a non-native. The fact that the author was educated and lived in both Western and Middle Eastern cultures helps her to paint a picture that westerners can understand, that is however very accurate of the Egyptian condition.
One small warning when reading this author : do not ever expect to be comfortable, prepare to have your own perception questioned. If you are Egyptian, like me, prepare to learn something about yourself.
Another interesting and insightful book by Reem Bassiouny. What struck me was the elaborate entanglement between the main protagonists in the novel, their facing of evil, their own failings, and their acceptance of life in Egypt more or less as it is, with the inevitability of corruption continuing in many forms, and the difficulty of understanding and moving between social classes.