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3.22 AVERAGE
3.22 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Due to the fragmented narrative (with a continuous theme), I unfortunately didn't get into the book.
This is, so far, the only book written by Elif Shafak that disappointed me. Its main theme revolves around seeing, being seen, visual perception in general. Yet it lacks depth and consistency.
There are two main stories - the one of the heroine (no name given) and her boyfriend, B-C (her an obese woman, him a dwarf), and the one about Keramet Mumi Keske Memis Efendi and his circus; one taking place in '99, one in 1885.
There are interesting concepts brought up about beauty, ugliness, being seen/ unseen/ seeing/ not seeing and so on. In the girlfriend/B-C story we have sprinkled across the story fragments from the Dictionary of Gazes, a book written by B-C containing as many concepts as possible (or as many characters as possible) that have a reference on the subject, as well as the heroine's perceptions (the narration being realised from her perspective) on them as a couple and on the outer world - implicitly, on how the outer world perceives both her and them.
Keramet Mumi Keske Memis Efendi's story is more of an explanation - how he came to where he was, how he managed to get the ugliest looking woman, the Sable Girl (and, as well, the story of her origin) and how he managed to get hold of the most beautiful woman in the world, La Belle Anabelle (of course, her story as well).
Yet, though 264 pages long, The Gaze still seems to stay on the surface, like a mirror that allows perceiving only the superficial. We do not get a consistent image of the characters and the two stories never intertwine; they could also be read as two completely separate novels or short stories.
It is, one could say, profoundly superficial. Yet nice story-telling.
There are two main stories - the one of the heroine (no name given) and her boyfriend, B-C (her an obese woman, him a dwarf), and the one about Keramet Mumi Keske Memis Efendi and his circus; one taking place in '99, one in 1885.
There are interesting concepts brought up about beauty, ugliness, being seen/ unseen/ seeing/ not seeing and so on. In the girlfriend/B-C story we have sprinkled across the story fragments from the Dictionary of Gazes, a book written by B-C containing as many concepts as possible (or as many characters as possible) that have a reference on the subject, as well as the heroine's perceptions (the narration being realised from her perspective) on them as a couple and on the outer world - implicitly, on how the outer world perceives both her and them.
Keramet Mumi Keske Memis Efendi's story is more of an explanation - how he came to where he was, how he managed to get the ugliest looking woman, the Sable Girl (and, as well, the story of her origin) and how he managed to get hold of the most beautiful woman in the world, La Belle Anabelle (of course, her story as well).
Yet, though 264 pages long, The Gaze still seems to stay on the surface, like a mirror that allows perceiving only the superficial. We do not get a consistent image of the characters and the two stories never intertwine; they could also be read as two completely separate novels or short stories.
It is, one could say, profoundly superficial. Yet nice story-telling.
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
DNF unfortunately. Persevered for 160+ pages but gave in. I’m not even sure I followed the story well enough to care what I’ve missed by not reading the ending.
This review was originally posted at http://eatreadexplore.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/review-the-gaze/
The Gaze is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Several stories, set in different times and places, each deal with different facets of the burden of being judged by one’s outward appearance. Facts and fiction intermingle in this book which is relatively short, only 264 pages, but is so packed with wonderful things that it feels like a much longer read. The build-up of the book is quite odd, because you feel like it starts in medias res, i.e. right in the middle. But as the book progresses, especially towards the end, you come to the conclusion that this isn’t the case. This isn’t your typical book with 1 main protagonist, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. It hasn’t one specific goal to be reached by the end of the book, which is why it might not appeal to some people. The story goes round in a circle, and ends up at pretty much the same point where it started. At some point it looks like the separate stories are beginning to overlap, but this is only briefly hinted at and not pursued any further. It’s up to the reader to fill in the gaps that link the stories, if there are any. The main message that the book carries out, in my opinion, is that everyone is judged by their outward appearance to some extent. Everyone, even the most open-minded kind of people will have a spark of prejudice inside them, even if they don’t realise it. It is something that is so inherently human that we can never break free from it completely. It doesn’t have an ending, which is the reason why the book doesn’t have a clear ending either.
What I like about the book is that it forces the reader to think long and hard about prejudices, and the easy manner with which we pass judgement on other people. To do this you don’t need any words, just a simple gaze will do. I am not a judgemental person by nature, but still the book and its characters stayed with me for a long time after I’d finished reading, and I found difficult to snap out of it. The most important thing to remember is that sometimes actions speak louder than words and that one look, one gaze can be enough to hurt someone beyond belief.
The Gaze is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Several stories, set in different times and places, each deal with different facets of the burden of being judged by one’s outward appearance. Facts and fiction intermingle in this book which is relatively short, only 264 pages, but is so packed with wonderful things that it feels like a much longer read. The build-up of the book is quite odd, because you feel like it starts in medias res, i.e. right in the middle. But as the book progresses, especially towards the end, you come to the conclusion that this isn’t the case. This isn’t your typical book with 1 main protagonist, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. It hasn’t one specific goal to be reached by the end of the book, which is why it might not appeal to some people. The story goes round in a circle, and ends up at pretty much the same point where it started. At some point it looks like the separate stories are beginning to overlap, but this is only briefly hinted at and not pursued any further. It’s up to the reader to fill in the gaps that link the stories, if there are any. The main message that the book carries out, in my opinion, is that everyone is judged by their outward appearance to some extent. Everyone, even the most open-minded kind of people will have a spark of prejudice inside them, even if they don’t realise it. It is something that is so inherently human that we can never break free from it completely. It doesn’t have an ending, which is the reason why the book doesn’t have a clear ending either.
What I like about the book is that it forces the reader to think long and hard about prejudices, and the easy manner with which we pass judgement on other people. To do this you don’t need any words, just a simple gaze will do. I am not a judgemental person by nature, but still the book and its characters stayed with me for a long time after I’d finished reading, and I found difficult to snap out of it. The most important thing to remember is that sometimes actions speak louder than words and that one look, one gaze can be enough to hurt someone beyond belief.
elif şafak (elif shafak): my all-time favorite author
Although it took me a while to get through the book, I have nevertheless learnt so much from it. It's a magical, yet thought-provoking story full of illusions and all-seeing eyes.
What I particularly enjoyed reading is The Dictionary of Gazes. Every single entry is a concept related to the act of watching or being watched.
What fascinated me is Shafak's commentary on time. We naively believe that time has to go forward, but, in reality, it can go backwards, in circles or a zigzag direction. Time is fluid, ever-changing, and dynamic.
The author asks an important, yet at times overlooked, question – are we being observed all the time and does it scare us? It is not only the omnipresent God who is tirelessly watching us, but the insatible eyes of our neighbors, friends, acquaintances and passerbys.
Please read this book with an open mind. It is a tale full of magic and wizardry, sables, cherry-colored tents, floating balloons, and distorted images of reality.
Although it took me a while to get through the book, I have nevertheless learnt so much from it. It's a magical, yet thought-provoking story full of illusions and all-seeing eyes.
What I particularly enjoyed reading is The Dictionary of Gazes. Every single entry is a concept related to the act of watching or being watched.
What fascinated me is Shafak's commentary on time. We naively believe that time has to go forward, but, in reality, it can go backwards, in circles or a zigzag direction. Time is fluid, ever-changing, and dynamic.
The author asks an important, yet at times overlooked, question – are we being observed all the time and does it scare us? It is not only the omnipresent God who is tirelessly watching us, but the insatible eyes of our neighbors, friends, acquaintances and passerbys.
Please read this book with an open mind. It is a tale full of magic and wizardry, sables, cherry-colored tents, floating balloons, and distorted images of reality.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was beautifully written, and I'm really hoping this writing style is consistent in Elif's other books as this was the first of hers I have read after seeing her give a talk at my university for International Women's Day. The book jumps back and forth between storylines and while it can be a little bewildering at first, it is in equal parts interesting and exciting. Luckily, all of the segments are tied up satisfyingly by the end. The mixing of fairytale and fable with apparent realism is really something to behold.
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
slow-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