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jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written; I loved the way each chapter was almost a self contained story, yet still functioned as part of the overall plot. It reminded me of either an old fashioned novel or A Thousand and One Nights. I won't pretend that I understood the complicated politics presented, because I didn't. But I found the Eastern portrayal of Western thoughts enlightening, as well as the way they generalized and dismissed other factions in their own city. And the themes of love, jealousy, shame, and hatred are universal and handled really well. I really enjoyed this book, and definitely would like to read more by Pamuk.
ghostmouse's review against another edition
3.0
Snow was dense reading, like trudging through knee high snow, but it was so well written -not just sounding pretty, but developing well structurally- that I had to finish it, and in the end I was pleased with the ending which is an accomplishment. Because I kept falling asleep I don’t want to say I loved it, and it was a little colder than I like. Though I think for me its real flaw, and also one of its major fascinations, was how much it reminded me of Pale Fire. Both stories contain a poet and a prose writer, and are built by the prose writer around the central poem that gives the novel its title. In Pale Fire the poem is a third of the book; in Snow the poems are missing and their absence takes up space as the novel is structured around their writing. I want to go further into the parallels but they are too spoiler-y so I'm going to hold back, but I'm really curious if it was intentional by Pamuk. Because I kept thinking back to Pale Fire, it didn’t feel quite as new as it might have if I had never read Pale Fire, but it still was a really interesting good book.
ida_s's review against another edition
4.0
This was not an easy or quick read, but an interesting and complicated novel. I wish I could have read it in Turkish, because I suspect that some things were lost in translation.
milavis's review
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
joangittel's review against another edition
Read the first fifty pages of this, but just couldn't get into it. Maybe its the problem of trying to read a book featuring snow in the middle of July. Will try again in winter.
m_dby's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ajkhn's review against another edition
4.0
Kars'da Ka kari gordu. And that sort of thing. I have the sneaking suspicion I'd have enjoyed this book far more in Turkish. But it was enough fun in English. Beginning with the potboiler of "man murdered in a snowed-in town so the murderer is still around, but goes far further than that. And one of the more likable terrorists in recent memory.
debr's review against another edition
Couldn't finish. Life is too short to read books that feel like a ponderous mixture of Orwell and Dostoyevsky without any of the funny bits. Ugh.
amb3rlina's review against another edition
4.0
I give this book four stars even though I only enjoyed three. There's definitely way more in this novel than I was able to appreciate. It's thick and nuanced and has much to offer. Lots of beauty. Lots of truth.