Scan barcode
nnyam33's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I get it
zoereadsnrambles's review against another edition
4.0
this book was a wild ride. i mean as the novel begins, a miniaturist has been murdered and thrown down into an abandoned well. we know this because the victim tells us. this sets up the novel in such an interesting way because it makes the reader think that this novel is going to be a murder mystery, but it isn't. my first thought about this book was "wow this is going to be such an interesting murder mystery story", and the other second thought was that this book was going to be about the love story between black and shekure. i am aware that having these two simultaneous thoughts about this is ironic given that this book is all about liminal states ... the liminal states between two art styles, liminal states between love and security, liminal states between life and death, liminal states between guilt and pride, liminal states between objective and subjective truth, liminal states between fiction and reality. i think that these liminal states are what make this book so special. even at the end, the author blurs the line between fiction and nonfiction which was super interesting to me.
i wasn't expecting to like this book as much as i did. although it's not an easy book to read, the writing flows seamlessly and i loved the structure of the book, with chapters from various POVs, some appearing only once, some multiple times, some VERY non-conformist and original.
i wasn't expecting to like this book as much as i did. although it's not an easy book to read, the writing flows seamlessly and i loved the structure of the book, with chapters from various POVs, some appearing only once, some multiple times, some VERY non-conformist and original.
vortimer's review against another edition
3.0
Impulse buy in an audiobook sale - I was completely unaware of the novel and author's significance. Some books work better in an audiobook format, and some on paper, and this is one of the latter. I don't think I got the best of this book and it's unusual structure and setting. I might have to revisit at some point reading rather than listening.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
My Name is Red is an intellectual historical murder mystery where the story is told in alternating chapters by different characters, including the murder victim. The book started off slow, but it definitely picked part way through. I learned a lot of interesting trivia about Islamic art from this novel.
monkya's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lindsaytt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this book quite much despite not being able to follow/understand the history fully. I found the digressions into art history and philosophy to be crucial, appealing parts of the narrative. The writing style, using multiple povs to weave together distinct voices and frequently breaking the fourth wall, is truly unique and facilitates the storytelling greatly.
oviyabalan's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
eloyvallina's review
1.0
It's been a struggle with this one from the beginning, reading out of discipline rather than genuine interest. I like to think I gave it a fair shot, read about half of it, but I honestly couldn't care less about the lives of these miniaturists or their endless digressions about art, religion, philosophy and whatnot...
Not my cup of tea
Not my cup of tea
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD performed by John Lee
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. The Sultan has commissioned a new book and directs Enishte Effendi to appoint a group of acclaimed miniaturists to illuminate the manuscript “in the style of the Franks.” But figurative art can be seen as an affront to Islam, so it’s a dangerous commission that must remain secret, and no one in the group knows the full scope of the project. When one of the artists disappears, the Sultan demands answers within three days. Was this the work of a devout follower of Islam, or is this a case of jealous rivalry for the hand of Enishte’s beautiful daughter Shekure?
I’ve had this on my tbr for a long time. I really enjoy reading international literature, and this one puts me smack dab into the world of historic Istanbul. But I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator – including not only the major characters (Black, Shekure, Esther, Butterfly, etc), but a corpse, a tree, a dog, an ancient coin, and even death. Each chapter is written in first person giving the reader only that narrator’s perspective.
When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. Some of these helped me to understand the culture and the references, but mostly they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
The audio book is masterfully performed by John Lee, whose voice reminds me of Jeremy Irons. He really had his job cut out for him, given the style of writing and the many characters. There were times when I had to read the text to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Still, Lee was definitely up to the task. I would rate his narration at 5 stars. Bravo.
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. The Sultan has commissioned a new book and directs Enishte Effendi to appoint a group of acclaimed miniaturists to illuminate the manuscript “in the style of the Franks.” But figurative art can be seen as an affront to Islam, so it’s a dangerous commission that must remain secret, and no one in the group knows the full scope of the project. When one of the artists disappears, the Sultan demands answers within three days. Was this the work of a devout follower of Islam, or is this a case of jealous rivalry for the hand of Enishte’s beautiful daughter Shekure?
I’ve had this on my tbr for a long time. I really enjoy reading international literature, and this one puts me smack dab into the world of historic Istanbul. But I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator – including not only the major characters (Black, Shekure, Esther, Butterfly, etc), but a corpse, a tree, a dog, an ancient coin, and even death. Each chapter is written in first person giving the reader only that narrator’s perspective.
When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. Some of these helped me to understand the culture and the references, but mostly they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
The audio book is masterfully performed by John Lee, whose voice reminds me of Jeremy Irons. He really had his job cut out for him, given the style of writing and the many characters. There were times when I had to read the text to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Still, Lee was definitely up to the task. I would rate his narration at 5 stars. Bravo.
balfin's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5