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ember2479's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
bonfeld's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
idmck's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
Read it faster than I thought I would but really had to force myself through parts. Really duplicitous characters, certainly wasn’t rooting for anyone. Interesting view into 16th century Ottoman art world, glad I read it and yet also was glad to be done bc I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was and the characters were all so unpleasant and exhausting
arya_deepak's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mobyskine's review against another edition
4.0
This book is lengthy and freaking detailed- I honestly had to re-read few chapters at the beginning cause I'm quite clueless with the story line at first.
In love with the writings anyway. Love how Pamuk separated each character to each chapter. I got myself a different vision every time, perspectives and those feels (especially during Shekure's chapters). Question and puzzle, a corpse lying inside a well memorizing his life and the murderer who did it to him, and how the story goes revealing details of each, vividly.
Story telling was done impressively, quite imaginary actually, I didn't expect myself to love reading about master miniaturists past and current (to the book scene) history-- those stories of Hüsrev and Shirin and the famous Persian painter Bihzad were really magnificent. I love the part where Black went to visit Butterfly, Stork and Olive asking them questions and got himself a bunch of stories about signature and style, painting and time as well as blindness and memory (this was my favorite). It was lovely to know few secrets and scandals and the exploration of these miniaturist's artworks.
Most interestingly, Pamuk gave life to certain objects/drawings during the story ride it gave me chills when I read it. My most favorite would be the gold coin and horse (and you get 'death' and 'Satan' as well). As non-human narrators it gave soul to this book, along the journey I could see how it was all related to each other, in such a way, so beautifully.
A living picture of Istanbul in year of 1950s, rich representation of Ottoman Empire, story of miniaturists, a murder mystery with love and friendship in between, and its astonishing finding. I was actually right about the murderer but later I thought I was wrong cause the story suddenly playing hints and such that I go ah damn it who the heck are you!
What a great reading journey (minus the clueless me at the beginning), my first Pamuk anyway and love it. "I bring my color to the page, it's as if I command the world to 'Be!' Yes, those who cannot see would deny it, but the truth is I can be found everywhere."
In love with the writings anyway. Love how Pamuk separated each character to each chapter. I got myself a different vision every time, perspectives and those feels (especially during Shekure's chapters). Question and puzzle, a corpse lying inside a well memorizing his life and the murderer who did it to him, and how the story goes revealing details of each, vividly.
Story telling was done impressively, quite imaginary actually, I didn't expect myself to love reading about master miniaturists past and current (to the book scene) history-- those stories of Hüsrev and Shirin and the famous Persian painter Bihzad were really magnificent. I love the part where Black went to visit Butterfly, Stork and Olive asking them questions and got himself a bunch of stories about signature and style, painting and time as well as blindness and memory (this was my favorite). It was lovely to know few secrets and scandals and the exploration of these miniaturist's artworks.
Most interestingly, Pamuk gave life to certain objects/drawings during the story ride it gave me chills when I read it. My most favorite would be the gold coin and horse (and you get 'death' and 'Satan' as well). As non-human narrators it gave soul to this book, along the journey I could see how it was all related to each other, in such a way, so beautifully.
A living picture of Istanbul in year of 1950s, rich representation of Ottoman Empire, story of miniaturists, a murder mystery with love and friendship in between, and its astonishing finding. I was actually right about the murderer but later I thought I was wrong cause the story suddenly playing hints and such that I go ah damn it who the heck are you!
What a great reading journey (minus the clueless me at the beginning), my first Pamuk anyway and love it. "I bring my color to the page, it's as if I command the world to 'Be!' Yes, those who cannot see would deny it, but the truth is I can be found everywhere."
eirikgje's review against another edition
This is, as far as I can remember, a beautiful book with a fascinating story.
kieranhealy's review against another edition
4.0
A wildly interesting, complex book, “My Name is Red” is multiple things wrapped into a murder mystery. Part philosophical treatise on art, part historical narrative, part love story and all interesting. A review of this book could go on and on, but what is most fascinating to me was the way the author effortlessly changes narrators from chapter to chapter, but never losing the plot or over complicating it. Touching on theology, history, and myth, it actually, at one point, tells a chapter from the point of view from the color red. It works. But the flaw for me was that at times, it digressed too far into art theory and downright bloviation later in the book. When things are getting really interesting, the reader is forced to wade through a tertiary characters ramblings about art nobody can see, and it gets tiresome. At nearly 700 pages, there were easily 100 pages or so of rambling that could have been lifted without story or musing vibe suffering the loss.
Ultimately my life is richer for having read this book, but sadly my interest in it began to fail with about 150 pages to go, and it limped to the end. When the murderer is revealed and multiple plot lines resolved, it all felt as if it were an afterthought and needlessly strung out. A shame because otherwise this is an incredible novel.
Ultimately my life is richer for having read this book, but sadly my interest in it began to fail with about 150 pages to go, and it limped to the end. When the murderer is revealed and multiple plot lines resolved, it all felt as if it were an afterthought and needlessly strung out. A shame because otherwise this is an incredible novel.
filomorgado's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
lilylanie's review against another edition
3.0
IMO this is one of those books that you read because it’s supposed to be brilliant, and as you’re reading you note to yourself the occasional bit of brilliance, but in all honesty you’re kind of relieved when it’s over.
At one point, a person asks a fairly straightforward question and receives the response: “Let me answer with a parable.” and I think that tells you all you need to know about this book.
At one point, a person asks a fairly straightforward question and receives the response: “Let me answer with a parable.” and I think that tells you all you need to know about this book.