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A review by indahmarwan
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
4.0
The title is the time left before Leila, a sex worker who is murdered and her body thrown away in a dumpster in the outskirts of Istanbul, completely passes away. As her brain shuts down, the memories of her life are recollected from her birth, her childhood, her escape from the arranged marriage and the strict family who later disown her, to the life that she chooses with freedom.
This novel highlights Leila’s experience whose character and storyline is strongly and beautifully narrated. Above all the topics addressed here, I was charmed the friendships made by Leila with four of her friends: each is unique and Shafak gives us the chance to know their stories. The chapters before the ending was entertaining, presenting the power of love and friendship. Historical events and places in Istanbul made me feel like I know Istanbul eventhough I have never visited it.
However, the portray of Turkish, Middle Eastern culture and the kind of Islam depicted here as the background of Leila’s life concern me as I believe her readers are mostly Western people interested in Middle Eastern culture/Islam. So for anyone who is interested in reading this book (or Shafak’s other fiction books) should bear in mind that this is fiction which cannot represent the whole culture or religion.
This novel highlights Leila’s experience whose character and storyline is strongly and beautifully narrated. Above all the topics addressed here, I was charmed the friendships made by Leila with four of her friends: each is unique and Shafak gives us the chance to know their stories. The chapters before the ending was entertaining, presenting the power of love and friendship. Historical events and places in Istanbul made me feel like I know Istanbul eventhough I have never visited it.
However, the portray of Turkish, Middle Eastern culture and the kind of Islam depicted here as the background of Leila’s life concern me as I believe her readers are mostly Western people interested in Middle Eastern culture/Islam. So for anyone who is interested in reading this book (or Shafak’s other fiction books) should bear in mind that this is fiction which cannot represent the whole culture or religion.