Fascinating Tale of the Ups and Downs of Family
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009 • PARRY SOUND NORTH STAR - 13 Fascinating tale of the ups and downs of family BY CHARLOTTE STEIN they are appalled at the wilderness. There are no films, no cafés. The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit Edith’s mother finds herself at the mercy of her relatives, by Lucette Lagnado a lonely and desperate old woman. Eventually, long after the others, Leon and Edith and The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit by Lucette Lagnado the children leave for the United States. is subtitled My Family’s Exodus from Old Cairo to the None of his American relatives will sponsor them, so New World. they become the responsibility of the Jewish Welfare The man in question is Leon Lagnado, the author’s Agency and are housed first in a hotel, and then a tiny father, and a bon vivant in pre war Cairo. Leon was a flat in Brooklyn. gambler, a womanizer and an observant Jew. Leon is now an old man, not well, and lost in this With his upper crust British accent and his tall good strange country. looks the city was his to own. The family struggles to make a living and to adjust Although Leon lived the life of the wealthy, he was to this very different culture. not in fact a rich man – perhaps the reason he marries The children become assimilated, but Leon still prays the young ingénue Edith, thinking she has more means every day with a group of Sephardic Jews. The family than she does. survives – but they are never a normal family. LouLou They both believe the other is wealthier than they still adores her father and cares for her mother. are – not a good start to a marriage. It is LouLou who, in spite of her own serious illness, In any case, they do marry, and Edith becomes Leon’s cares for her parents in their old age. responsibility, joining him in his mother’s home – a No doubt the others, now adult children, felt they ground floor apartment on Malaka Nazli in the heart could not survive another moment in the presence of of Cairo. their parents. Edith’s mother, Alexandra, also becomes part of the This is an absolutely fascinating book about a family extended family. – warts and all — living in a time and place gone forever, In spite of Leon’s attendance at religious services, he but captured here. still lives the life of a free man and spends his nights at Lucette Lagnado is a reporter for the Wall Street clubs, much to the anguish of his young wife. Journal and a masterful writer. The babies arrive, Suzette – a daughter who is never I hope that the writing of this able to forgive her father for wanting a son. book, and her return journey Then Cesar the first born son; baby Alexandra who dies to the home of her childhood, as an infant and haunts each member of the family ever have given her peace. after; Isaac, the second son; and then Lucette – LouLou Boyden helped organize as she is called. LouLou is her father’s darling. By now the marriage is in shambles, but will never end. Belvedere fundraiser It is LouLou who worships her father and who is the only one to whom he seems to be able to show affection. continued from 10 Art in the Park and plan to help Belvedere A dysfunctional family?! “It’s very seldom that you see six “one department at a time.” Only slightly. authors of that calibre under one roof,” Tickets are available for purchase at Cairo and Egypt are also changing over these years. said Melse, ticking off names: Along Parry Sound Books, Bearly Used Books, The Second World War ends, Israel is declared a country, with Boyden, his wife, American author the Belvedere administration office and Cairo is in flames. Amanda Boyden will be reading, as well or Impressions in Colour. To order, The British, the French, the Jews are no longer as Wayson Choy, Christine Pountney, stop by in person or phone Elaine at welcome. Andrew Pyper and Michael Winter. 746-4545. They cost $20 in advance or Their homes and businesses are burned, including the “And Joseph got them all and organized $25 at the door. venerable hotel, Shepheard’s, such a symbol of British them all.” Refreshments are available and the rule. King Farouk is overthrown; all traces of royalty The Friends of Belvedere group was reading starts at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter’s are removed as streets are renamed. created two years ago by a group of Church on Church Street. The authors The Jews of Cairo are rapidly leaving, escaping to nine area residents who have no family will be available for questions and book Australia, Venezuela, Canada, South Africa, Brazil, the and friends living in the home for the signings afterward. United States, and Israel. aged. Six signed books will also be handed Most members of Leon’s family leave for Israel, where Charlotte Stein They started by working as security for out as door prizes. 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