A review by ceceveegee
My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk

4.0

Four stars, a compromise. Five stars for My Name Is Red as a literary work; 3.5 for my enjoyment as a reader. No doubt, this is a masterpiece. A large cast of distinct, believable characters whose complex layers sluff off slowly to reveal depth and nuance. An arsenal of techniques deployed effectively, not for show. Rich use of history, language and metaphor. Engaging philosophically. The faults were with the reader: an insufficient grounding in Ottoman history, culture and literature; inadequate patience for the deliberate pace required for a work of this complexity. An effort to read, but with moments of real pleasure. The return was well worth the investment.