Scan barcode
nonabgo's review against another edition
3.0
Maybe a 3.5, but I'm uncomfortable to rate it higher. I'm sad. I wanted to love this so much, but alas...
The premise sounds amazing, the kind of story we all need to learn about. The Struma voyage is one of WWII's least talked about tragedies. Given my country's involvement in this issue, I was surprised to have only learned about it from a novel, though I shouldn't have been. We're not exactly popularizing our participation in the Holocaust and, in true Balkan fashion, we try to sweep it under the rug (just like all the other countries involved in this issue did, because the fate of 800 Jewish people was not as important as saving face).
Anyhow. Maya Duran, a PR assistant for the Istanbul university, is tasked to act as liaison between the university and a visiting German-American professor who returns to Istanbul after 50-ish years for a conference. Maximilian Wagner has other motives to visit, though, and through this acquaintance, Maya discovers not only his tragic story, but also connections to her own family and a whole bunch of government cover ups regarding Turkey's own troubled history. Such as the Armenian genocide.
Now, all this sounds fantastic. We need more historical fiction that focuses on events that are purposefully kept hidden by our governments. The three tragedies touched on by this novel — the Struma "voyage", the Armenian genocide and the Blue Regiment of Crimean Turks are all important topics not spoken about very much. I appreciate the author for the historical accuracy portrayed in this novel, with very few liberties taken for storytelling purposes. It gives this book veracity — at least in terms of the historical events.
I was excited and intrigued to have a Turkish author speak about the Armenian genocide and curious about its depiction, since the Turkish government is avoiding, to this day, to use the word "genocide" when talking about it. However, I was sorely disappointed. While I understand that the novel's main topic is the Struma tragedy, the other two issues, and especially the Armenian genocide, are barely touched, despite Maya's insistence that she "learned her true family history". If you are going to discuss these topics, with great importance in history for the Turkish people, why not dive into them more? Is the author afraid of his government?
Now, as I said, this novel gave me a lot of accurate information on issues of interest regarding the history and politics in the Balkans, entangled with WWII and my own country. It also facilitated my own research into these issues, for which I am thankful. I believe historical fiction is an amazing way of increasing our knowledge and understanding the past (especially now), as long as its done well and transmits correct information, with little to no embellishments.
Another thing that Livaneli has done well is the setting. I've visited Istanbul briefly in the past when I went there for work, but unfortunately have not had the chance to get to know it properly, and it's been on my to-do list for a long time. I'm drawn by the cultural and religious mix and its rich history and I think the author managed to convey its spirit quite well and in a way that invites the reader to know more, to want to visit it.
However, where this book felt lacking was in the execution. I'll start by saying that it's a book by a male author written from the perspective of a female protagonist. Normally, this shouldn't be a problem in our times (I don't have the same level of expectations from books written a century or more ago), but I think (and I hope I'm wrong, but probably not) that Livaneli's own biases and cultural background have a greater impact that they should have. Turkey and the Turks and not known for their liberalism when it comes to the role of women in society and, despite him wanting to appear open-minded, the book is deeply misogynistic. It's my first contact with this author and for some reason I though he was actually a woman, until about quarter-way through the book, when a lot of things started to sound weird to me. Unsurprisingly, they were actually written by a man who knows next to nothing about women's internal thoughts and lives. I was especially bothered by a quote towards the end that specifically says (through the mouth of Maya, even!) that women do not grow up unless there's a male protagonist in their life. Give me a break!
Another thing that really annoyed me was the novel's construction. For as much importance that Livaneli gives to the Struma voyage, the actual story occupies maybe 5 pages. Max's story is rushed over, instead we have countless pages about Maya's showers and baths (no kidding, she takes a bath, washes her hair, wraps it in a towel, puts on a robe and gets into bed every other chapter!), the food she buys or cooks, the airport announcements, the internal monologues that all say the same thing, opening a laptop, googling something... The prose is extremely repetitive with these mundane activities that we all do and which are unnecessary and don't move the story along.
Some other aspects that I want to mention, but I won't go into all that much, because it would maybe spoil things, are Maya's relationship with her son (I'm not buying any of it,), her relationship with her boyfriend/ broker, the whole "midget" situation (no, he does not call them "little people")... Oh yeah, and that ending... just no.
So yeah, here it is. I got annoyed in the second half and just prayed for the book to end as soon as possible. Great premise, questionable execution.
The premise sounds amazing, the kind of story we all need to learn about. The Struma voyage is one of WWII's least talked about tragedies. Given my country's involvement in this issue, I was surprised to have only learned about it from a novel, though I shouldn't have been. We're not exactly popularizing our participation in the Holocaust and, in true Balkan fashion, we try to sweep it under the rug (just like all the other countries involved in this issue did, because the fate of 800 Jewish people was not as important as saving face).
Anyhow. Maya Duran, a PR assistant for the Istanbul university, is tasked to act as liaison between the university and a visiting German-American professor who returns to Istanbul after 50-ish years for a conference. Maximilian Wagner has other motives to visit, though, and through this acquaintance, Maya discovers not only his tragic story, but also connections to her own family and a whole bunch of government cover ups regarding Turkey's own troubled history. Such as the Armenian genocide.
Now, all this sounds fantastic. We need more historical fiction that focuses on events that are purposefully kept hidden by our governments. The three tragedies touched on by this novel — the Struma "voyage", the Armenian genocide and the Blue Regiment of Crimean Turks are all important topics not spoken about very much. I appreciate the author for the historical accuracy portrayed in this novel, with very few liberties taken for storytelling purposes. It gives this book veracity — at least in terms of the historical events.
I was excited and intrigued to have a Turkish author speak about the Armenian genocide and curious about its depiction, since the Turkish government is avoiding, to this day, to use the word "genocide" when talking about it. However, I was sorely disappointed. While I understand that the novel's main topic is the Struma tragedy, the other two issues, and especially the Armenian genocide, are barely touched, despite Maya's insistence that she "learned her true family history". If you are going to discuss these topics, with great importance in history for the Turkish people, why not dive into them more? Is the author afraid of his government?
Now, as I said, this novel gave me a lot of accurate information on issues of interest regarding the history and politics in the Balkans, entangled with WWII and my own country. It also facilitated my own research into these issues, for which I am thankful. I believe historical fiction is an amazing way of increasing our knowledge and understanding the past (especially now), as long as its done well and transmits correct information, with little to no embellishments.
Another thing that Livaneli has done well is the setting. I've visited Istanbul briefly in the past when I went there for work, but unfortunately have not had the chance to get to know it properly, and it's been on my to-do list for a long time. I'm drawn by the cultural and religious mix and its rich history and I think the author managed to convey its spirit quite well and in a way that invites the reader to know more, to want to visit it.
However, where this book felt lacking was in the execution. I'll start by saying that it's a book by a male author written from the perspective of a female protagonist. Normally, this shouldn't be a problem in our times (I don't have the same level of expectations from books written a century or more ago), but I think (and I hope I'm wrong, but probably not) that Livaneli's own biases and cultural background have a greater impact that they should have. Turkey and the Turks and not known for their liberalism when it comes to the role of women in society and, despite him wanting to appear open-minded, the book is deeply misogynistic. It's my first contact with this author and for some reason I though he was actually a woman, until about quarter-way through the book, when a lot of things started to sound weird to me. Unsurprisingly, they were actually written by a man who knows next to nothing about women's internal thoughts and lives. I was especially bothered by a quote towards the end that specifically says (through the mouth of Maya, even!) that women do not grow up unless there's a male protagonist in their life. Give me a break!
Another thing that really annoyed me was the novel's construction. For as much importance that Livaneli gives to the Struma voyage, the actual story occupies maybe 5 pages. Max's story is rushed over, instead we have countless pages about Maya's showers and baths (no kidding, she takes a bath, washes her hair, wraps it in a towel, puts on a robe and gets into bed every other chapter!), the food she buys or cooks, the airport announcements, the internal monologues that all say the same thing, opening a laptop, googling something... The prose is extremely repetitive with these mundane activities that we all do and which are unnecessary and don't move the story along.
Some other aspects that I want to mention, but I won't go into all that much, because it would maybe spoil things, are Maya's relationship with her son (I'm not buying any of it,
Spoiler
you don't leave your suicidal adolescent son at home to go on a trip around the world because of a guy you barely know!So yeah, here it is. I got annoyed in the second half and just prayed for the book to end as soon as possible. Great premise, questionable execution.
worldlibraries's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed what I learned from this book, but I feel it should have more focus on the actual Struma itself and the people who were on it. I imagine the people who were on it to be quite accomplished. I felt the Jewish victims of the sinking of the Struma almost came across as a background for the foreground story of single Mom, Maya, and her son, Kerem. It may be that there isn't extensive archives about who was on the Struma, but the book would have been more powerful if the Struma story had taken center stage.
That said O.Z. Livaneli's ability to portray a single mom character is extraordinary. Maya seemed so real.
That said O.Z. Livaneli's ability to portray a single mom character is extraordinary. Maya seemed so real.
aishayn's review against another edition
5.0
Bu kitap benim tüm zaman favorilerimden. Çok sevmiştim. Daha fazla konuşulmayı hak ettiğini düşünüyorum. Bir de birinin acilen filmini yapması lazım.
soulofmimi's review against another edition
4.0
max ve nadia'nın hikayesine tanıklık etmek o kadar güzeldi ki... kitap bittiğinde içimde hoş ama aynı zamanda buruk bir parça bıraktı. asla unutamayacağım bir kitap olacak sanırım serenad. fakat kitabın son kısmındaki küçük bir ayrıntıyı gereksiz buldum, onun dışında son derece akıcı ve keyifli bir kitaptı!!
yrhmwdydt's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
hbetulkara's review against another edition
3.0
Romanın konusu güzel ve ilgi çekici ancak yazarın okuduğum bu ilk kitabındaki dili bana hitap etmedi. Belki de karakterin elinden yazıldığı izlenimini güçlendirmek için olabilir, fakat diyaloglar zaman zaman sahte geldi ve beni hikayenin akışından kopardı. Öte yandan tarihsel olaylar ilgimi çekti ve beni farklı konulara ve kitaplara yönlendirdi.
_em_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
edina41's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0