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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I chose this book for a reading challenge that specified a novel set in Turkey by a Turkish author. With its impressive Goodreads rating and captivating premise, it seemed like an ideal choice.
The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Leila, a prostitute who has recently passed away and is reflecting on her life during the ten minutes and thirty-eight seconds when her brain is still active. We learn about her troubled childhood, which is marked by tragedy, including the loss of her younger brother and her experiences of sexual abuse. This challenging background ultimately leads her to Istanbul and a life in prostitution. Despite her struggles, Leila finds a chosen family in five loyal friends who remain by her side, even after her violent murder.
Elif Shafak’s prose is often compelling, making it difficult to put the book down. The author creates a vivid portrayal of Istanbul and introduces a vibrant cast of characters. I particularly appreciated how Leila’s narrative explores her chosen family, a group of outsiders who build a community based on love and resilience.
However, the book does have its shortcomings. With so many characters, the sections focusing on her friends felt too brief and easily overlooked. We would jump right into a scene involving a friend, only to find it hard to recall anything about them afterward, making it challenging to follow their relationships.
Additionally, the tone of the story sometimes shifted awkwardly, especially in the scenes where her friends attempt to recover her body from an unmarked grave. The comedic elements occasionally clashed with the serious nature of the narrative. I was also surprised by the minimal attention given to the details of her murder; the narrative nearly glosses over it entirely, leaving that subplot unresolved.
Overall, this is a distinctive and thought-provoking novel with moments of brilliance. However, its inconsistent structure and fluctuating tone left me wanting more. It’s a worthwhile read, but it didn’t fully fulfill its potential.
The narrative unfolds through the eyes of Leila, a prostitute who has recently passed away and is reflecting on her life during the ten minutes and thirty-eight seconds when her brain is still active. We learn about her troubled childhood, which is marked by tragedy,
Elif Shafak’s prose is often compelling, making it difficult to put the book down. The author creates a vivid portrayal of Istanbul and introduces a vibrant cast of characters. I particularly appreciated how Leila’s narrative explores her chosen family, a group of outsiders who build a community based on love and resilience.
However, the book does have its shortcomings. With so many characters, the sections focusing on her friends felt too brief and easily overlooked. We would jump right into a scene involving a friend, only to find it hard to recall anything about them afterward, making it challenging to follow their relationships.
Additionally, the tone of the story sometimes shifted awkwardly,
Overall, this is a distinctive and thought-provoking novel with moments of brilliance. However, its inconsistent structure and fluctuating tone left me wanting more. It’s a worthwhile read, but it didn’t fully fulfill its potential.
Een ding is zeker, Elif Shafak kan heel goed schrijven. Dit is een verhaal vol hoop en vriendschap en trouw door dik en dun. Het speelt zich voornamelijk af in Turkije, in Istanbul in het prostitutiecircuit. Leila is geboren als dochter van een welgestelde man, maar zij is het kind van zijn bijvrouw. Zijn hoofdvrouw, Suzan, kan geen kinderen krijgen en daarom is de moeder van Leila aangeschaft (letterlijk) om de kinderen in het gezin voort te brengen. Leila wordt door de buitenwereld gezien als de dochter van Suzan. Voor Binnaz, haar biologische moeder, is dat de druppel die haar laat instorten en Binnaz raakt ernstig in de war.
Ik ga niet teveel vertellen over het verdere verhaal en over hoe Leila in de prostitutie terecht komt. Maar door de jaren heen raakt ze wel goed bevriend met een vijftal mensen. Daar is Sinan, haar jeugdvriend, Jamilla, een jonge Afrikaanse vrouw, Nalan, een transgender man, die nu als vrouw door het leven gaat, Zaynab122, de vrouw van Indiase afkomst die slecht 1.22 meter is. En Humeyra, de zangeres van een band.
Het boek begint als Leila in een container vermoord wordt gevonden. Na haar dood kan Leila echter nog 10 minuten en 38 seconden denken. En die tijd vertelt ze de verhalen over hoe ze de vijf vrienden heeft gevonden.
Het verhaal is erg indrukwekkend en echt heel goed geschreven.
Ik ga niet teveel vertellen over het verdere verhaal en over hoe Leila in de prostitutie terecht komt. Maar door de jaren heen raakt ze wel goed bevriend met een vijftal mensen. Daar is Sinan, haar jeugdvriend, Jamilla, een jonge Afrikaanse vrouw, Nalan, een transgender man, die nu als vrouw door het leven gaat, Zaynab122, de vrouw van Indiase afkomst die slecht 1.22 meter is. En Humeyra, de zangeres van een band.
Het boek begint als Leila in een container vermoord wordt gevonden. Na haar dood kan Leila echter nog 10 minuten en 38 seconden denken. En die tijd vertelt ze de verhalen over hoe ze de vijf vrienden heeft gevonden.
Het verhaal is erg indrukwekkend en echt heel goed geschreven.
Evocative and sensuous. A worthy Booker prize shortlist title. Through the stories of the main character's friends, and of course Leila herself, you are transported into their worlds and their lives. I enjoyed the vivid language, the smells and tastes that are woven into the descriptions of the characters' experiences, but also the astute sense of time and place.
emotional
informative
sad
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:
Yes
4Stars
I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction… but this book completely won me over.
Being thrown into a new country and facing its challenges opens your eyes, and your heart. It makes you more empathetic, more understanding.
Following the main character through her life was absolutely heartbreaking. Watching her relationship with her family, and everything she endured in her youth... Just so sad!
And then came Istanbul, such a surprising shift. Yes, she’s a prostitute, but watching her find her voice, her people, and her sense of belonging was unexpectedly heartwarming.
This book proves that family is more than blood.
I’ll 100% be picking up more from this author in the future.
I’m not usually a fan of historical fiction… but this book completely won me over.
Being thrown into a new country and facing its challenges opens your eyes, and your heart. It makes you more empathetic, more understanding.
Following the main character through her life was absolutely heartbreaking. Watching her relationship with her family, and everything she endured in her youth... Just so sad!
And then came Istanbul, such a surprising shift. Yes, she’s a prostitute, but watching her find her voice, her people, and her sense of belonging was unexpectedly heartwarming.
This book proves that family is more than blood.
I’ll 100% be picking up more from this author in the future.
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
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:
Yes
Подходих песимистично, но книгата ме опроверга. Красиво, фино писане и няколко вълнуващи истории, описващи Истанбул като град, в който живеят толкова много хора, всеки със своята съдба. Големите мегаполиси като него определено не са лишени от цвят, живот и разнообразие във всички аспекти.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is the second book of Elif’s that I have read and I just love how she has a unique…twist on these stories.
And just like The Island of Missing Trees, this had me just as emotional.
And just like The Island of Missing Trees, this had me just as emotional.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Violence, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
This is a deeply affecting about a life lived told through the memories imagined as a body shuts down, it asks us to realise the value of every life. In addition it is something of a hymn to Istanbul in all of its evident complexities. This is not an easy book, but one that is worth it