ae_young's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Violence
charleyroxy's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Time of Mute Swans was written by Ece Temelkuran in 2015 and translated from the Turkish by Kenneth Dakan in 2017. This book was definitely a more challenging read for me but by the end I fully enjoyed it. Part of that challenge was due to my unfamiliarity with the events surrounding the 1980 coup in Turkey. My knowledge on the topic was very basic so I stopped and read up a bit on it before proceeding. It added so much more to the reading experience and the glossary in the back was a useful reference as well.
This is a story from the view point of two children, from different walks of life, who become friends during a tumultuous time in their country and within their families. Ali is a young Alevi boy from a poor area of Ankara and is extremely introverted except sometimes when he is with Ayşe. Ayşe is an outgoing young girl from a middle class family who employs Ali's mother as a helper after Ali's home is burnt down. Ali has seen the violence and unrest first hand and been touched by it. Ayşe is mostly protected from it with stories and games to make it all look less terrifying. They spend their days observing the revolutionaries in their neighbourhoods and families and become inspired. Together they decide to become revolutionaries in their own right by completing two tasks: getting butterflies into parliment and by saving the mute swans in the park from having their wings clipped.
This story is heartbreaking and hopeful and I found myself smiling and sad, often within the same page. I love stories told by children for their innocence and their uncanny and unique understanding of events. Now I am looking forward to picking up the next book by Temelkuran.
This is a story from the view point of two children, from different walks of life, who become friends during a tumultuous time in their country and within their families. Ali is a young Alevi boy from a poor area of Ankara and is extremely introverted except sometimes when he is with Ayşe. Ayşe is an outgoing young girl from a middle class family who employs Ali's mother as a helper after Ali's home is burnt down. Ali has seen the violence and unrest first hand and been touched by it. Ayşe is mostly protected from it with stories and games to make it all look less terrifying. They spend their days observing the revolutionaries in their neighbourhoods and families and become inspired. Together they decide to become revolutionaries in their own right by completing two tasks: getting butterflies into parliment and by saving the mute swans in the park from having their wings clipped.
This story is heartbreaking and hopeful and I found myself smiling and sad, often within the same page. I love stories told by children for their innocence and their uncanny and unique understanding of events. Now I am looking forward to picking up the next book by Temelkuran.
sporadicallyreading's review
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
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