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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
3.5/5 stars is probably more accurate than 4 stars for this review. I came for the pretty cover, got annoyed at the hyperbolic writing, but stayed for the characters.
I found the actual prose a little overblown and a little too laboured over to have a seamless reading experience with this text. There were moments when it just felt like the author was trying too hard to make it ‘literary’ and so ended up detracting from the actual enjoyment a little.
That said, I did find the plot engaging. I couldn’t write a summary of it if I tried, as it was more an unfolding and overlapping of different narratives with little pieces being revealed one at a time. All the characters had lives that were intertwined and I found the way that Shafak developed and built on their own narratives to be highly interesting. They did feel a little reduced - a lot of the characters were reduced to a single defining trait, but the way they came together was really fascinating.
I though Shafak wove the different threads of the story together in quite a clever way, and the build up was excellent. You could see it coming and feel the dread build and build until it spilt over, and I found that final climax really enthralling.
There were an abundance of different commentaries on identity and a struggle to find ones own place in the world, and these mashed and clashed to form the main tension of the novel. Voicing this through two different 19 year old girls was done well, as there was both an openness to their discussion and an inherent defensiveness which conveyed the kind of sensitivity that hangs around not having a core identity really well.
Overall, I think the plot carried this. The characters weren’t always brilliantly developed, but they were enough for me to ignore the occasionally overdone writing. (Which given that it’s in a second language, feels like a harsh criticism to have. But it was the major cause of my review being pulled down a little so...)
I found the actual prose a little overblown and a little too laboured over to have a seamless reading experience with this text. There were moments when it just felt like the author was trying too hard to make it ‘literary’ and so ended up detracting from the actual enjoyment a little.
That said, I did find the plot engaging. I couldn’t write a summary of it if I tried, as it was more an unfolding and overlapping of different narratives with little pieces being revealed one at a time. All the characters had lives that were intertwined and I found the way that Shafak developed and built on their own narratives to be highly interesting. They did feel a little reduced - a lot of the characters were reduced to a single defining trait, but the way they came together was really fascinating.
I though Shafak wove the different threads of the story together in quite a clever way, and the build up was excellent. You could see it coming and feel the dread build and build until it spilt over, and I found that final climax really enthralling.
There were an abundance of different commentaries on identity and a struggle to find ones own place in the world, and these mashed and clashed to form the main tension of the novel. Voicing this through two different 19 year old girls was done well, as there was both an openness to their discussion and an inherent defensiveness which conveyed the kind of sensitivity that hangs around not having a core identity really well.
Overall, I think the plot carried this. The characters weren’t always brilliantly developed, but they were enough for me to ignore the occasionally overdone writing. (Which given that it’s in a second language, feels like a harsh criticism to have. But it was the major cause of my review being pulled down a little so...)
Not my favorite work by this author. Every character is just running away from their past and the ending was unsatisfactory.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Rape, Sexual violence
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
funny
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Super interesting portrayal of Armenian diaspora and of Istanbul life — amid excellent but shocking plot. Part of the ending of the book, where a body is transported through the chaotic, festival-like everyday streets of Istanbul, reminded me of 10 minutes and 38 seconds in this strange world
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
3.5 stars. Compelling characters and a fascinating voice. The ending felt rushed and incomplete though. Something is missing.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really really enjoyed this (likeable characters, descriptive prose - especially around yummy food) until everything came together at the end. Read the trigger warnings, my god.