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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
What a heartbreaking story
It started as Leila who is dying near a rubbish bin on the outskirts of Istanbul. As her mind began to shut down, Leila's mind drifts through memories minutes by minutes. This book is about Leila's journey, a prostitute who had lived on the streets in Istanbul where they harbored the oldest licensed brothels.
As a young girl, Leila fled to Istanbul in the hope to fulfill her dream of having a better life, but then brutal realities & cruelties reveal themselves. Despite everything she went through she found new family in her five friends that love her.
Elif Shafak manages to weave in unison the difficult issues and taboo topics of child abuse, domestic violence, transphobia, gender inequality, sexual slavery, human trafficking, mental illness and physical disability in this well-written book.
It started as Leila who is dying near a rubbish bin on the outskirts of Istanbul. As her mind began to shut down, Leila's mind drifts through memories minutes by minutes. This book is about Leila's journey, a prostitute who had lived on the streets in Istanbul where they harbored the oldest licensed brothels.
As a young girl, Leila fled to Istanbul in the hope to fulfill her dream of having a better life, but then brutal realities & cruelties reveal themselves. Despite everything she went through she found new family in her five friends that love her.
Elif Shafak manages to weave in unison the difficult issues and taboo topics of child abuse, domestic violence, transphobia, gender inequality, sexual slavery, human trafficking, mental illness and physical disability in this well-written book.
dark
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
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
I wouldn’t say that I had a good time reading this, but I do think that it was an extremely well written, powerful book. The concept, the execution, the writing, all of it was very well done. Check trigger warnings before reading, but I would recommend this if you’re looking for a more hard hitting literary fiction.
Really enjoyed another book by this author. Poignant in places, dark in places, some comedy, cleverly constructed, and beautifully written.
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Murder, Pregnancy, Classism
Moderate: Cursing, Death, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Blood, Grief, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Homophobia, Mental illness, Sexual content, Trafficking, Sexual harassment
challenging
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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
I found this book so easy to read. It was beautifully written and although the story is fictional, it delves deep into the reality of being an outcast.