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kiramke's review against another edition
3.0
I like the setup and it was a decent read, but so quick. I'm not against short books at all, but this had plenty of room for more atmosphere or reflection or just pacing. Not awful, but not great.
tony_t's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
4.25
My first chance to read a novel by Jakob Arjouni. A noir tale about a Turkish private detective, Kemal Kayankaya, in Frankfurt, Germany. In traditional manner, Kayankaya is hired to investigate what appears to be the murder of an insignificant Turkish national but the case turns into much more including a satisfying twist at the end. I found Kayankaya, who is the main character and narrator, a bit off-putting in the beginning. But he soon grew on me and I flew through the slim volume. I wouldn't put Arjouni in the same class with Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler, but I recommend it if you are interested in adding to the noir authors you read.
jeremyhornik's review against another edition
2.0
The first in this series. Eh... I didn't like it as much as the other I read. Sloppy, mystery poor, less character stuff. The second one was just as sloppy, but everything else was better.
giulieh's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
oldpondnewfrog's review
3.0
Exciting and fun. Plot flew along, flavored with Kayankaya's trademark sardonic mood. Maybe too flippant, our hero too capable. Except for the gassing—which was gripping—he was never out of control, and even after that things went so smoothly for him that it grew hard to credit. And yet, fun.
bluepigeon's review
3.0
Happy Birthday Turk! is rife with noir cliches. A private eye who does not eat anything for days; he is so tough that he just drinks coffee and alcohol. He gets beaten up, his eye swollen shut and his jaw bleeding, yet he can go on to investigate crimes, interview people, chase down criminals. The plot is obvious from the very beginning and everything unravels very easily: It seems that people are just waiting to be asked to spill the beans. Perhaps the only redeeming quality is the "ethnic" identity of the private eye, a German-Turk, who is pretty German in culture, but looks like a Turk. So there is some biting commentary, and some incidences written into the plot, that bring out this aspect of the main character. He has a witty and fast mouth, which he uses well to dish out advice for those unfortunate enough to discriminate against him due to his looks or those who assume he is just another Turk. But then again, he also thinks Turkey is a dictatorship so who knows what that's all about... Maybe it is on purpose, to show us that Kayankaya is just like the other ignorant Germans, or it is a mistake the author made, or maybe the translator chose "dictatorship" but the actual text said "democratic rule often overseen by the military"? Also the whole family structure of the Turkish family (of the murder victim) is wrong. To imagine such an obedient and quiet mother-in-law, to the point that she'd remain silent when one of her daughters "gets sick" is unbelievable.
I hear that the translation is actually pretty good, so I am going to guess that, like most noir out there, the book was written in the choppy style that dwells way too much on minute-by-minute movements of the main character (i.e. "I opened the door. I walked in. I sat down. I reached for the glass on the table. I poured myself some water.") Just how many times can a smell "hit" someone's "nostrils"? Many, many, many times.
I hear that the translation is actually pretty good, so I am going to guess that, like most noir out there, the book was written in the choppy style that dwells way too much on minute-by-minute movements of the main character (i.e. "I opened the door. I walked in. I sat down. I reached for the glass on the table. I poured myself some water.") Just how many times can a smell "hit" someone's "nostrils"? Many, many, many times.
avid_d's review against another edition
2.0
This started out well but became rather too silly, incredible and shallow for me. There was not enough in this to encourage me to read any others in the series.
alanfederman's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty formulaic but entertaining German noir mystery with Turkish detective. This is the second of thsi series I've read (thank you Melville book store!!) and look forward to more. The definition of a "good read".
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