A review by bibliophilelinda
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

4.0

"The Bastard of Istanbul" is great book about two families, one Armenian and one Turkish, who are unknowingly intertwined by history yet separated by politics and distance, until brought together again by a confused daughter looking to understand her Armenian heritage. By exploring the Armenian grudge against Turks for the atrocities committed decades past, and the Turkish culture of forgetting and moving on from their less-than-exemplary bits of history, the story highlights the emotional rifts between each community. While the story is a bit complicated to fully summarize, suffice to say that each family harbors secrets which are slowly revealed throughout the novel, eventually leading to the revealation of their common past and the questioning of whether the past dictated their future. Containing fully-formed and unforgettable characters, liberal doses of anger and resentment, and startling moments of insight, this is a great read for those who like to delve into the psyches of wounded families.