marcusk2010's review against another edition
1.0
This was bad, really bad. I read it anyway, though.
I listened to a reading of the book on a German radio program. Most of it was in German, of course, but the last couple of minutes she read a short chapter herself in English. I was hooked. The topic seemed interesting and the premise of the book was promising. I was clearly expecting something different. Something fresh. I can't define fresh here, but Elif Shafak's writing is anything but fresh. It's written in a way that I don't feel anything for any character in the book. Yes, the people in the book do horrible things to each other, but it doesn't reach me, doesn't touch me. I was more shocked by my reaction to what happened to Leila at the age of six than to what happened itself, actually. It left me cold. And as I progressed into the story, I couldn't help but think that this is all cliché. None of the characters felt real, they all felt like generic ingredients for some quirky story. A trans woman, a dwarf, a nightclub singer, a black beauty and a man who suffered from his unrequited love for the dead protagonist. Ah yeah, and a deaf cat. How do you even know a cat is deaf, or just choses to not listen to you? And on top, the book, the writing feels imperfect. Imperfect because in the first two thirds the book wants to be taken extremely seriously due to the heavy topics. But then, closer to the end, it just drifts off into slapstick, which doesn't benefit the book, at all. From there it´s all downhill. I am disappointed. Yes, that's it I am simply disappointed. I liked the cover, though.
I listened to a reading of the book on a German radio program. Most of it was in German, of course, but the last couple of minutes she read a short chapter herself in English. I was hooked. The topic seemed interesting and the premise of the book was promising. I was clearly expecting something different. Something fresh. I can't define fresh here, but Elif Shafak's writing is anything but fresh. It's written in a way that I don't feel anything for any character in the book. Yes, the people in the book do horrible things to each other, but it doesn't reach me, doesn't touch me. I was more shocked by my reaction to what happened to Leila at the age of six than to what happened itself, actually. It left me cold. And as I progressed into the story, I couldn't help but think that this is all cliché. None of the characters felt real, they all felt like generic ingredients for some quirky story. A trans woman, a dwarf, a nightclub singer, a black beauty and a man who suffered from his unrequited love for the dead protagonist. Ah yeah, and a deaf cat. How do you even know a cat is deaf, or just choses to not listen to you? And on top, the book, the writing feels imperfect. Imperfect because in the first two thirds the book wants to be taken extremely seriously due to the heavy topics. But then, closer to the end, it just drifts off into slapstick, which doesn't benefit the book, at all. From there it´s all downhill. I am disappointed. Yes, that's it I am simply disappointed. I liked the cover, though.
sarah70's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
shaq's review against another edition
2.0
Revelatory yet dubious.
I can't say that I very much enjoyed this book if Im being honest. The book is pretty decent, and has a rather unique context and reads well too, set up in a thrilling and ominous setup leading to its conclusion, but while that may be the case, the book felt a little distasteful.
Not due to the events described in the story, by any means, which do require a fair amount of meaningful discussion on the discriminatory and offensive treatments of the minority but because I felt that the book was rather plunged into a pool of melancholy that painted everything and everyone negatively.
So much so that it felt almost like the author had a bias against certain sects or classes and therefore just went with painting evil characters as evil without really putting any extra thoughts or reasoning behind it other than, thats what they do.
If Im being honest, I dont really know what else to say about this book, if nothing else, it really annoyed me that it hooked me with an excellent beginning that made me want to discuss every chapter step by step, and then it just turned into something so weird, almost like some form of slapstick comedy or totally off genre that made me question what the hell I was even reading.
Maybe there's some sense of history that made this book far greater in the eyes of others, but even with the integration of real life events and tragedies making this story a more of a historic fiction didnt really salvage the way the story was wrapped up together.
Genuintely felt that the author lost the motivation to complete this story properly somewhere down the road and therefore ended up writing whatever came to her mind by the end of it.
I can't say that I very much enjoyed this book if Im being honest. The book is pretty decent, and has a rather unique context and reads well too, set up in a thrilling and ominous setup leading to its conclusion, but while that may be the case, the book felt a little distasteful.
Not due to the events described in the story, by any means, which do require a fair amount of meaningful discussion on the discriminatory and offensive treatments of the minority but because I felt that the book was rather plunged into a pool of melancholy that painted everything and everyone negatively.
So much so that it felt almost like the author had a bias against certain sects or classes and therefore just went with painting evil characters as evil without really putting any extra thoughts or reasoning behind it other than, thats what they do.
If Im being honest, I dont really know what else to say about this book, if nothing else, it really annoyed me that it hooked me with an excellent beginning that made me want to discuss every chapter step by step, and then it just turned into something so weird, almost like some form of slapstick comedy or totally off genre that made me question what the hell I was even reading.
Maybe there's some sense of history that made this book far greater in the eyes of others, but even with the integration of real life events and tragedies making this story a more of a historic fiction didnt really salvage the way the story was wrapped up together.
Genuintely felt that the author lost the motivation to complete this story properly somewhere down the road and therefore ended up writing whatever came to her mind by the end of it.
uhhjeepers's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
*for school*
This could be recency bias, but this might be the best book I’ve ever read for school. It was an extremely difficult read at points, but I feel so rewarded by the experience regardless.
Leila and her friends are characters that I truly believe will stick with me forever. This book is filled with difficult topics, but it is also filled with so much heart. Love and friendship seep out of this book.
I’m left with an overwhelming feeling of appreciation for the people in my life. Nobody is companionless, and this book forces you to know that, even when you’re at your loneliest.
This could be recency bias, but this might be the best book I’ve ever read for school. It was an extremely difficult read at points, but I feel so rewarded by the experience regardless.
Leila and her friends are characters that I truly believe will stick with me forever. This book is filled with difficult topics, but it is also filled with so much heart. Love and friendship seep out of this book.
I’m left with an overwhelming feeling of appreciation for the people in my life. Nobody is companionless, and this book forces you to know that, even when you’re at your loneliest.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Incest, Death, Rape, Sexual content, Grief, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual assault, Racism, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Transphobia, Gun violence, Mass/school shootings, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Miscarriage, and Trafficking
Minor: Pregnancy
vishwesh's review against another edition
5.0
A unique style of writing. This is my first book by the author Elif Shafak and I loved it. The storytelling is poetic and stimulates all the senses. The smells, sounds, and touches remain with you even after reading. The fragrance of cardamom coffee, the smell of sugar-and-lemon, the aromatic lamb stew, the taste of watermelon, and the soil in her mouth are described in a way that you feel them.
This book is full of quotes and highlights for me. One I particularly liked
This book is full of quotes and highlights for me. One I particularly liked
peter_fischer's review against another edition
3.0
The fact that brain activity and cellular biochemistry persist for a period beyond clinical death is used here as a storytelling device (not entirely convincingly): Tequila Leila, a prostitute in Istanbul, has been found dead in a metal garbage bin. The post-mortal brain activity takes the form of a succession of memories, telling the story of how and why Leila becomes a prostitute and is finally murdered. The brain-activity-after-death device notwithstanding, this is a wonderfully interesting and positive, if melancholy, novel, written by a gifted storyteller. It touches on many issues emanating from the inferior standing of females in traditional religious societies.
mswan's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I felt this book was beautifully written. The way it is structured through the character’s life is clever. Although it is slow, I really enjoyed learning about the character growing up and the different life events that affected her afterwards. The writing was just very poetic and that compelled me to read on even more
adheara's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
taylamaree's review against another edition
3.0
The writing was absolutely stunning, even breath-taking at times. The characters were also rich and believable.
For whatever reason, despite it being objectively beautiful, I could not connect well with it. I think it’s more to do w me being burnt out than with the novel itself.
For whatever reason, despite it being objectively beautiful, I could not connect well with it. I think it’s more to do w me being burnt out than with the novel itself.
laura_179322's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5