Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.22 AVERAGE
3.22 AVERAGE
This book was very different from the other Elif Shafak books I previously read. In my opinion, it is not a page-turner novel. Very eccentric and odd at times.
The book was divided into different parts with fragments from different points in time. But unlike other Elif Shafak books, the cohesion among the parts was not as compelling. The characters of the book (a fat woman and a dwarf man) and their activities seemed odd at first and became familiar only as the story proceeded farther. I had never thought of how it might feel to be the subject of everyone's gaze. The bizarreness of a person's looks that grabs so much attention creates much more bizarreness in their heads but the latter never gets the attention. As if they have nothing more than their bodies. The subject matter was very thoughtful and deep. But I think the subject had been stretched too much to fill the pages between the covers of a novel.
The entries from the Dictionary of Gazes and stories from the Ottoman spectacles gave a different touch to the book. I am yet to discover if the entries from the Dictionary of Gazes are mostly somewhat random or if there is some order in that randomness! I think this is a novel that I will be revisiting to understand better.
The book was divided into different parts with fragments from different points in time. But unlike other Elif Shafak books, the cohesion among the parts was not as compelling. The characters of the book (a fat woman and a dwarf man) and their activities seemed odd at first and became familiar only as the story proceeded farther. I had never thought of how it might feel to be the subject of everyone's gaze. The bizarreness of a person's looks that grabs so much attention creates much more bizarreness in their heads but the latter never gets the attention. As if they have nothing more than their bodies. The subject matter was very thoughtful and deep. But I think the subject had been stretched too much to fill the pages between the covers of a novel.
The entries from the Dictionary of Gazes and stories from the Ottoman spectacles gave a different touch to the book. I am yet to discover if the entries from the Dictionary of Gazes are mostly somewhat random or if there is some order in that randomness! I think this is a novel that I will be revisiting to understand better.
"This is a world of spectacles, About seeing and being seen."
"It's as if our entire existence, as well as our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen."
Elif Shafak's words touched me like no other book ever has, maybe because the hard detailed work on each paragraph and sentence was evident and enchanting.After reading about 20 pages of the novel, while you're confused and searching for everything you begin to understand that you're in capable hands.The only thing you should do is sit and "See" and let the book unravel the story for you.
The main part of the story is about such a tangible, common yet utterly intricate matter (seeing and being seen). However, the author doesn't take the easy way to tell it.The book is compromised of two entirely different stories which become as a whole by the end of it. The ideas of time, seeing and being watched are treated as if they are breakable toys ; delicately and playfully.
The most challenging parts of this great novel for me were the parts that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath and remind myself that this is a story, real life is even worse.We all judge people, we all see and interpret based on the troubles that we have suffered.But, that doesn't make it anymore justified.Do I look at people? of course. Do I enjoy it? most of the times.When I try to see the unseen. Do I like being watched? no,never. Ask these questions from yourselves and I hope that you as well as me would try to lessen the damage inflicted on others by simply looking at them.
"It's as if our entire existence, as well as our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen."
Elif Shafak's words touched me like no other book ever has, maybe because the hard detailed work on each paragraph and sentence was evident and enchanting.After reading about 20 pages of the novel, while you're confused and searching for everything you begin to understand that you're in capable hands.The only thing you should do is sit and "See" and let the book unravel the story for you.
The main part of the story is about such a tangible, common yet utterly intricate matter (seeing and being seen). However, the author doesn't take the easy way to tell it.The book is compromised of two entirely different stories which become as a whole by the end of it. The ideas of time, seeing and being watched are treated as if they are breakable toys ; delicately and playfully.
The most challenging parts of this great novel for me were the parts that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath and remind myself that this is a story, real life is even worse.We all judge people, we all see and interpret based on the troubles that we have suffered.But, that doesn't make it anymore justified.Do I look at people? of course. Do I enjoy it? most of the times.When I try to see the unseen. Do I like being watched? no,never. Ask these questions from yourselves and I hope that you as well as me would try to lessen the damage inflicted on others by simply looking at them.
It was interesting to think about how different people see and are affected by being seen through the extreme contrast of the main characters.
"The widow met a caterpillar on the road. ‘Will you be my secret love?’ she asked him. ‘Why keep it a secret?’ asked the caterpillar. ‘If someone’s in love with me I want everyone to see her love. Then I’ll be thought less ugly.’ For a while, the widow watched the caterpillar gnaw on the leaves. Then she locked the whole wide world on the ugly caterpillar."
"The widow met a caterpillar on the road. ‘Will you be my secret love?’ she asked him. ‘Why keep it a secret?’ asked the caterpillar. ‘If someone’s in love with me I want everyone to see her love. Then I’ll be thought less ugly.’ For a while, the widow watched the caterpillar gnaw on the leaves. Then she locked the whole wide world on the ugly caterpillar."
What an amazing book! Dreamlike, enchanting, insightful and sad, The Gaze is combines elements of fairy-tale and contemporary drama into something that is neither of those things. It is beautifully written; a book to savour and reflect upon. It comments on how we are seen, and how we see others but, more than that, it looks into the awful secrets that scar lives and make us who we are.
It's not always an easy read, but it is an unforgettable one. Can't recommend this highly enough.
It's not always an easy read, but it is an unforgettable one. Can't recommend this highly enough.
I started reading it for my book club and didnt finish in time and I didnt really like it so I didnt bother finishing it after our meeting.
“The past doesn’t pass and go away. It doesn’t go anywhere. The past always flows into today. That’s why being able to forget forgetting is important.” “You should try it. Put people in the photograph in which they’re least likely to fit, and then take a look at them.”
After reading my first Elif Shafak book - 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World, my expectations from The Gaze were exceedingly high. That is the problem with reading the author’s “best one” first and then tiptoeing while navigating the critic repository to avoid any anchoring bias.
The story is set in multiple eras and is entwined with the Istanbul freakshow. The way the author has weaved each time period to one common fabric themed – Gaze, is exceptional. The narrative is riveting and richly layered. Despite the parallel plots the main theme of the book remains intact. I am amazed at how trivial the action of gaze has been metamorphosed into an enthralling 250 page book.
The story is that of an overweight woman and her dwarf lover who are the victims of gaze. Wherever they go they are started at. “Our entire existence, as well as Our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen.” Each character’s approach to dealing with the gaze is different and pretty unique. For me the highlight of the book was the dwarf’s dictionary entries which changes the woman’s perspective. Parallelly, the story of the Efendi’s Sable girl and La Belle Annabelle in the cherry colored tent sends an important message of how men and women behave and respond to the idea of beauty and loneliness.
The Gaze illustrates the philosophy of our inherent need to look and feel a certain way. From gazing to being gazed, the book takes us through the conflicting ironies of human desire.
After reading my first Elif Shafak book - 10 Minutes 38 Seconds In This Strange World, my expectations from The Gaze were exceedingly high. That is the problem with reading the author’s “best one” first and then tiptoeing while navigating the critic repository to avoid any anchoring bias.
The story is set in multiple eras and is entwined with the Istanbul freakshow. The way the author has weaved each time period to one common fabric themed – Gaze, is exceptional. The narrative is riveting and richly layered. Despite the parallel plots the main theme of the book remains intact. I am amazed at how trivial the action of gaze has been metamorphosed into an enthralling 250 page book.
The story is that of an overweight woman and her dwarf lover who are the victims of gaze. Wherever they go they are started at. “Our entire existence, as well as Our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen.” Each character’s approach to dealing with the gaze is different and pretty unique. For me the highlight of the book was the dwarf’s dictionary entries which changes the woman’s perspective. Parallelly, the story of the Efendi’s Sable girl and La Belle Annabelle in the cherry colored tent sends an important message of how men and women behave and respond to the idea of beauty and loneliness.
The Gaze illustrates the philosophy of our inherent need to look and feel a certain way. From gazing to being gazed, the book takes us through the conflicting ironies of human desire.
it's very good but i would NOT have understood this without my literature teacher
do not pick this as your first foray into elif shafak she's a very cool lady but this is not the book to start with!