The Names of Things: Life, Language, and Beginnings in the Egyptian Desert

by Susan Brind Morrow

Release Date: June, 1998

Edition: Paperback

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A Stunning Memoir and Portrait of a Country

A truly gifted writer...I read passages over and over because the language was so well-crafted and beautiful. This is a wonderful memoir painted with impressionist strokes of a pen. One of the best travel books I've read in years.

Interesting memoir, not too heavy

I really enjoyed this book for it's interesting stories about one woman's life as she travels and studies through Egypt. She weaves word etymologies through the book, twining them with the things she sees in the landscape and people. Though there are some pretty depressing moments, her tone is always light and I found it to be a very quick read. The focus of the book is Susan and her life and how she came to study in Egypt. I would have liked more about language, because that is the what the title says it's about, but her travels are so interesting and the people she meets are described so well that the book is consistently enjoyable. I sincerely hope she writes another book, maybe about another place, since she alludes to other travels in her life.