The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
nandithav's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
Advance Reading Copy disclosure:
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 29, 2017:
Just heard about this book on the Reading Women podcast, Episode 28.5. I can't wait for this to come out in December. And, bonus, the cover is beautiful.
October 16, 2017:
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. I’m 35% in an can see why Shafak is an “award-winning novelist and the most widely read woman writer in Turkey.” Her writing is nothing short of magical.
October 22, 2017
This is probably the most important book I have ever read. I cannot think of another novel that so delicately made me question my beliefs about God, love, friendship, commitment, religion, and life in general. While I was reading I had actually to stop and ponder these issues as they came up. I’m not not even close to being done with this book. I read it on my Kindle but I’m pretty sure I have to buy the hard copy when it comes out because I need to highlight, bookmark, and make notes throughout. I’m not a re-reader but I have a feeling this is one novel I will read over and over again.
I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
August 29, 2017:
Just heard about this book on the Reading Women podcast, Episode 28.5. I can't wait for this to come out in December. And, bonus, the cover is beautiful.
October 16, 2017:
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book. I’m 35% in an can see why Shafak is an “award-winning novelist and the most widely read woman writer in Turkey.” Her writing is nothing short of magical.
October 22, 2017
This is probably the most important book I have ever read. I cannot think of another novel that so delicately made me question my beliefs about God, love, friendship, commitment, religion, and life in general. While I was reading I had actually to stop and ponder these issues as they came up. I’m not not even close to being done with this book. I read it on my Kindle but I’m pretty sure I have to buy the hard copy when it comes out because I need to highlight, bookmark, and make notes throughout. I’m not a re-reader but I have a feeling this is one novel I will read over and over again.
poojakishinani's review against another edition
4.0
Peri, a young, introverted girl from Istanbul finds herself questioning her beliefs about God when she enrols on a philosophy course at Oxford. I found myself relating to Peri throughout the book - she feels stuck in between those who are fervently religious and those who are confident in their atheism. She feels like an outsider, perpetually confused and uncertain. Her worldview shifts after she meets Azur, a professor teaching a course on God at Oxford.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a complex and beautifully woven tale about the search for meaning in a chaotic world, the pursuit of knowledge, and learning to live with your mistakes. My biggest takeaway from this book is that it is futile to cling on to certainty. As Azur put it "Certainty was to curiosity what the sun was to wings of Icarus. Where one shone forcefully, the other couldn't survive. With certainty came arrogance; with arrogance, blindness; with blindness, darknesss; and with darkness, more certainty." It's uncomfortable to rest with uncertainty, especially in a world that constantly eludes our understanding, but the Malady of Certainty only limits our potential to learn, grow, and change.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It's a complex and beautifully woven tale about the search for meaning in a chaotic world, the pursuit of knowledge, and learning to live with your mistakes. My biggest takeaway from this book is that it is futile to cling on to certainty. As Azur put it "Certainty was to curiosity what the sun was to wings of Icarus. Where one shone forcefully, the other couldn't survive. With certainty came arrogance; with arrogance, blindness; with blindness, darknesss; and with darkness, more certainty." It's uncomfortable to rest with uncertainty, especially in a world that constantly eludes our understanding, but the Malady of Certainty only limits our potential to learn, grow, and change.
nelefk's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ratnix's review against another edition
3.0
I predicted that this was going to be a 5 star read but as the story went on the stars lessened. I was really excited to finally getting my hands on a novel by Elif Shafak but this probably wasn't the best introduction to her
I enjoyed Peri's childhood and the story before her involvement with Azur's seminars but I felt betrayed (as one reviewer also said, I cannot find the review right now
I enjoyed Peri's childhood and the story before her involvement with Azur's seminars but I felt betrayed (as one reviewer also said, I cannot find the review right now
hrosel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the writing again. I feel like Shafak builds such complex and nuanced characters. As with the island of missing trees, navigating religious division is a key theme, which is a fascinating one when it's splitting individual families. It strongly reminded me of Midnight's Children.
I appreciated both the ways in which it avoided clichés ( that the professor/student relationship didn't actually happen ) and the relatable ones it included (who amongst us hasn't had a misguided crush on a guy with a FEZ 🤣).
I also found the book interesting from the perspective of looking back at university life with the maturity and distance of your mid thirties.
Finally, I liked the ambiguity of the ending.
One thing that dropped it down for me was the random dead twin . I found that jarring and not actually needed for the plot.
I appreciated both the ways in which it avoided clichés (
I also found the book interesting from the perspective of looking back at university life with the maturity and distance of your mid thirties.
Finally, I liked the ambiguity of the ending.
One thing that dropped it down for me was the random