Take a photo of a barcode or cover
pranjalsingh 's review for:
The Museum of Innocence
by Orhan Pamuk
I want to start my review by saying that the way you feel about a book or a story is largely a factor of your personality, choices, phase of life, expectations.
I have read Orhan Pamuks "My name is red" and it set the benchmark too high.
This book is nothing like, My name is red and far from it in terms of story line and writing style.
The protagonist, Kemal, young, educated in America, belonging to a rich business Turkish family of Istanbul is soon to be engaged to Sibel, who is his equal in lifestyle and status, in 1975 Istanbul . One day Kemal meets his distant step cousin, 18 year old Fusun at a shop and is drawn to her. They soon develop a secret relationship while preparations for Kemals engagement are underway. Kemal is entangled in the two relationships but slowly and steadily, Fusun is all he ever thinks about.
The story is about Kemal and Fusun. In his obsession for Fusun, he starts collecting objects related to Fusun, anything and everything that reminded him of her, and eventually memorabilia from all the places he lived at, visited or spent time at while he thought of Fusun. All of these objects make the Museum of innocence.
Museum of Innocence is as much about Kemal and Fusun as it is about Istanbul. The author has captured Istanbul, in 1975 and following years in great detail, including but not limited to the society, culture, gossips, fashion trends, movies, restaurants, streets, food, liasons. I'm sure it'd be such a revelation to someone who has lived in Istanbul for an extended period of time.
The writing is detailed but painfully so. As a reader, I felt it lacked depth, also because everything is being narrated to us from Kemals perspective.
I couldnt relate to Kemal at any point and found him entitled, spoilt with no real struggle in his life without depth, and thus was left feeling annoyed and disappointed as the story progressed.
I feel the time and generation I'm from, I couldnt find love in the relentless pursuit of a girl.
500 something pages and i was disappointed . Again not every book is for everyone.
I have read Orhan Pamuks "My name is red" and it set the benchmark too high.
This book is nothing like, My name is red and far from it in terms of story line and writing style.
The protagonist, Kemal, young, educated in America, belonging to a rich business Turkish family of Istanbul is soon to be engaged to Sibel, who is his equal in lifestyle and status, in 1975 Istanbul . One day Kemal meets his distant step cousin, 18 year old Fusun at a shop and is drawn to her. They soon develop a secret relationship while preparations for Kemals engagement are underway. Kemal is entangled in the two relationships but slowly and steadily, Fusun is all he ever thinks about.
The story is about Kemal and Fusun. In his obsession for Fusun, he starts collecting objects related to Fusun, anything and everything that reminded him of her, and eventually memorabilia from all the places he lived at, visited or spent time at while he thought of Fusun. All of these objects make the Museum of innocence.
Museum of Innocence is as much about Kemal and Fusun as it is about Istanbul. The author has captured Istanbul, in 1975 and following years in great detail, including but not limited to the society, culture, gossips, fashion trends, movies, restaurants, streets, food, liasons. I'm sure it'd be such a revelation to someone who has lived in Istanbul for an extended period of time.
The writing is detailed but painfully so. As a reader, I felt it lacked depth, also because everything is being narrated to us from Kemals perspective.
I couldnt relate to Kemal at any point and found him entitled, spoilt with no real struggle in his life without depth, and thus was left feeling annoyed and disappointed as the story progressed.
I feel the time and generation I'm from, I couldnt find love in the relentless pursuit of a girl.
500 something pages and i was disappointed . Again not every book is for everyone.