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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Tediously patronising and tokenistic. Despite being 'outsiders' the characters are all stock, their quirks filling in for personalities. With some hefty rearranging it could be good, but as it is it's a set of character biographies followed by a bland and exasperating adventure. Worst yet, the period of time spanned in the narrative is far greater than the titular ten minutes 38 seconds!
The first part of this book is retrospective and affecting but beautiful and interesting too. The second part then really changes becoming almost calamitous but full of dark humour based around truths. Subject matter isn’t always easy but a tale beautifully told highlighting important enduring issues internationally. I loved Istanbul when I visited it is in many ways a magical mystical city but, as the book describes, it is the perfect setting for hiding imperfect secrets.
emotional
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
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
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
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
compelling character histories but the character presents(?) had much more to be desired…. its mostly a story told about the past, which makes sense, but i didn’t find the ongoing interactions engaging at all. i think it would’ve been better had we been placed in the side characters perspectives rather than told a summary of their pasts condensed into a chapter. like other litfic i have the same criticisms about telling vs showing but it’s mostly a difference in writing taste. i skimmed most of it. one thing i dislike is when diversity and explanations of how things are like feels shoehorned in, which is a criticism that im not sure others share.
i read this book on my plane ride to türkiye and throughout my stay in istanbul. the story is set in istanbul, and i do appreciate its explorations of its fluidity as a city and the struggle between eastern and western cultures (which ive observed myself) but i kinda wish i read another book instead. if only i had my ereader with me…. i regret buying the physical copy from the bookstore in london but at least it was 50% off???
the parts where they depict childhood sexual abuse is sooooooo gutwrenching. made me feel so nauseous. in terms of the murder mystery payoff and the entierity of part 2 i felt a bit let down by.. but i really like the setup and the segway from each minute to the next combined with the sensory experiences sights smells etc associated with the different memories
i read this book on my plane ride to türkiye and throughout my stay in istanbul. the story is set in istanbul, and i do appreciate its explorations of its fluidity as a city and the struggle between eastern and western cultures (which ive observed myself) but i kinda wish i read another book instead. if only i had my ereader with me…. i regret buying the physical copy from the bookstore in london but at least it was 50% off???
the parts where they depict childhood sexual abuse is sooooooo gutwrenching. made me feel so nauseous. in terms of the murder mystery payoff and the entierity of part 2 i felt a bit let down by.. but i really like the setup and the segway from each minute to the next combined with the sensory experiences sights smells etc associated with the different memories
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual assault, Murder
I really click with this author!! Great book - interesting concept. Some hard hitting stuff in there and I kept forgetting throughout that we already knew the ending for Leila, which was really sad. I liked how the revealed different parts of her life through the lens of friendship, layer by layer.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No