alattebooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was so good.
I'm not sure I fully grasped the ending, I was hoping for a little bit more
I'm not sure I fully grasped the ending, I was hoping for a little bit more
chiara_everywhere's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
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
4.25
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