Scan barcode
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.
lavoiture's review against another edition
I really, really wish that I could read this book. I've been wanting to read it for a long time, but when I started to read it, I couldn't focus. I would read a page and have no idea what I'd just read. It's very heavy and detailed, and not a lot happens (at least in the first 50 pages or so). I'll try again at some point in my life...
steve_urick's review against another edition
1.0
Maybe it was the translation, but the conversations and actions of the characters did not make sense.
kategci's review against another edition
2.0
This was on a my TBR pile and I along with a couple of others suggested it for one of my book clubs. It was a heavy, dense read and at the end, almost none of us felt it was worth the effort. I appreciated the writing and descriptions, but the female characters were not fully evoked. Some of the scenes seemed crazy set ups, but the author in an afterword in another edition stated that most of what happened in the book, happened to him. At the book club meeting,it provoked an excellent discussion of Islam and to a lesser degree, most religions. How "religious" does someone have to be? Can you not follow all parts of a belief system yet consider yourself a member of a religion? We had no firm answers, but a lot of thoughtful comments.
cms28's review
Really boring and I found myself not being interested enough to even listen to the audiobook.
fantine729's review against another edition
I didn't like it as much as I wanted to like it.
juliebcooper's review against another edition
I really tried. But I couldn't get past some of the dream-like and random sequences and digressions.... and I think it boils down to Pamuk's writing style is not my cup of tea - I found it rather impenetrable. I was curious about where he was going with the suicide girls and the competing ideals in Kars and Turkey with "modernists" and "Political Islamists", but then Ka would stop and have a plate or 3 of food and I wouldn't care anymore. And again - I get that his character is an allegory (at least I assume so).... But he was so infantile at times I wanted to throw the book across the room. So - I didn't finish. Too many other things out there I'd like to read.
bookslut007's review against another edition
3.0
This was well written in a sense but a shit read simultaneously. Kinda glad it’s over.