asuph 's review for:

The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk

5.0

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I kept oscillating between 4 and 5 stars for a while, and typically when I do that I end up with 4, because 5 has to be so simple a choice. But nothing about Pamuk is simple. It's hard to love/hate his central characters. They're like life: messy. The only reason I wanted to take away a star was because of the long, seemingly mundane, part before the story again gathers momentum/control at the end. But then it's intentionally that: repetitive and mundane, and driving us to desperation along with Kemal, the love-to-hate and hate-to-love kinda protagonist. But there is so much in the book that one has to let go that minor affliction.

Caution: Not for everyone. Okay, not for most people who would be reading this review. Pick up at your own risk.