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A review by booksonadventures
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
In the minutes following her untimely death, sex worker Tequila Leila reflects on her past through a symphony of tastes and smells. Beyond the circumstances of her life, this tale introduces us to her vibrant found family, brought together from across the fringes of society.
This foray into Leila's memories offers a vivid look into the experiences of a young girl growing up in rural Turkey. Some of her experiences as a child are universal, but cultural details are woven seamlessly into the narrative. A father who turns deeper toward Islam when his life doesn't turn out the way he expects, the juxtaposition of Qur'an reading day and waxing day for women in the village. When Leila runs away to Istanbul, her memories provide a glimpse into the dark undercurrent of the city: brothels, jail cells, and socialist movements during the 1970s.
At the heart of this story you meet "the five," Leila's closest friends and fiercest protectors... a collection of misunderstood and marginalized people she meets along the way. Each of these characters deserve a novel all their own, but their voices introduce dark humor, compassion, and alternate perspectives to the complex life of Leila.
This book was so wonderfully written that I immediately purchased The Island of Missing Trees from Elif Shafak, I cannot wait to read more of her work.
This foray into Leila's memories offers a vivid look into the experiences of a young girl growing up in rural Turkey. Some of her experiences as a child are universal, but cultural details are woven seamlessly into the narrative. A father who turns deeper toward Islam when his life doesn't turn out the way he expects, the juxtaposition of Qur'an reading day and waxing day for women in the village. When Leila runs away to Istanbul, her memories provide a glimpse into the dark undercurrent of the city: brothels, jail cells, and socialist movements during the 1970s.
At the heart of this story you meet "the five," Leila's closest friends and fiercest protectors... a collection of misunderstood and marginalized people she meets along the way. Each of these characters deserve a novel all their own, but their voices introduce dark humor, compassion, and alternate perspectives to the complex life of Leila.
This book was so wonderfully written that I immediately purchased The Island of Missing Trees from Elif Shafak, I cannot wait to read more of her work.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment