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lindsaytt's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I enjoyed this book quite much despite not being able to follow/understand the history fully. I found the digressions into art history and philosophy to be crucial, appealing parts of the narrative. The writing style, using multiple povs to weave together distinct voices and frequently breaking the fourth wall, is truly unique and facilitates the storytelling greatly.
oviyabalan's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
eloyvallina's review against another edition
1.0
It's been a struggle with this one from the beginning, reading out of discipline rather than genuine interest. I like to think I gave it a fair shot, read about half of it, but I honestly couldn't care less about the lives of these miniaturists or their endless digressions about art, religion, philosophy and whatnot...
Not my cup of tea
Not my cup of tea
book_concierge's review against another edition
3.0
Book on CD performed by John Lee
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. The Sultan has commissioned a new book and directs Enishte Effendi to appoint a group of acclaimed miniaturists to illuminate the manuscript “in the style of the Franks.” But figurative art can be seen as an affront to Islam, so it’s a dangerous commission that must remain secret, and no one in the group knows the full scope of the project. When one of the artists disappears, the Sultan demands answers within three days. Was this the work of a devout follower of Islam, or is this a case of jealous rivalry for the hand of Enishte’s beautiful daughter Shekure?
I’ve had this on my tbr for a long time. I really enjoy reading international literature, and this one puts me smack dab into the world of historic Istanbul. But I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator – including not only the major characters (Black, Shekure, Esther, Butterfly, etc), but a corpse, a tree, a dog, an ancient coin, and even death. Each chapter is written in first person giving the reader only that narrator’s perspective.
When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. Some of these helped me to understand the culture and the references, but mostly they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
The audio book is masterfully performed by John Lee, whose voice reminds me of Jeremy Irons. He really had his job cut out for him, given the style of writing and the many characters. There were times when I had to read the text to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Still, Lee was definitely up to the task. I would rate his narration at 5 stars. Bravo.
Set in 16th-century Instanbul, this is a murder mystery, an art history lesson, and a love story all in one. The Sultan has commissioned a new book and directs Enishte Effendi to appoint a group of acclaimed miniaturists to illuminate the manuscript “in the style of the Franks.” But figurative art can be seen as an affront to Islam, so it’s a dangerous commission that must remain secret, and no one in the group knows the full scope of the project. When one of the artists disappears, the Sultan demands answers within three days. Was this the work of a devout follower of Islam, or is this a case of jealous rivalry for the hand of Enishte’s beautiful daughter Shekure?
I’ve had this on my tbr for a long time. I really enjoy reading international literature, and this one puts me smack dab into the world of historic Istanbul. But I found it difficult to follow because of Pamuk’s unusual style. Each chapter has a different narrator – including not only the major characters (Black, Shekure, Esther, Butterfly, etc), but a corpse, a tree, a dog, an ancient coin, and even death. Each chapter is written in first person giving the reader only that narrator’s perspective.
When he focuses on the murder and the investigation, the story is quite compelling. However, Pamuk also includes long passages on art, the history of Turkey, and the teachings of Islam. Some of these helped me to understand the culture and the references, but mostly they interrupted the story arc and sometimes had me scratching my head wondering what I had just missed.
The audio book is masterfully performed by John Lee, whose voice reminds me of Jeremy Irons. He really had his job cut out for him, given the style of writing and the many characters. There were times when I had to read the text to be sure I hadn’t missed something. Still, Lee was definitely up to the task. I would rate his narration at 5 stars. Bravo.
balfin's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
moeinio's review against another edition
5.0
This book's writing style is in my opinion more important than it's story, since everything in the book has a life of it's own. It's as if every page is talking to you, it acknowledges you as the reader and an observer of the events and tries to tell you the next part of the story.
I love how much it appreciates Herat's school of art, my childhood stories and places i have visited growing up in Herat and that region of the world.
It was such a joyful read that i was kinda sad the book was finished. Orhan Pamuk is a genius, his writing style makes the book very engaging, the characters do not have complicated names and they come to you one by one, each giving you little peaces of the story.
I love how much it appreciates Herat's school of art, my childhood stories and places i have visited growing up in Herat and that region of the world.
It was such a joyful read that i was kinda sad the book was finished. Orhan Pamuk is a genius, his writing style makes the book very engaging, the characters do not have complicated names and they come to you one by one, each giving you little peaces of the story.
moshalala's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
envenv's review against another edition
5.0
Oldukça kişisel bir “Benim Adım Kırmızı” yazısı
Ne güzeldir bir kitabı ikinci kere okumak.
Benim Adım Kırmızı’yı daha 15 yaşımdayken, Arsuz’un kavurucu Ağustos akşamlarından birinde, bir panayır yerinde, sokak kaldırımına dizilmiş bandrolsüz kitap satan bir satıcıdan aldığımı çok net hatırlıyorum. Hatırlıyorum çünkü sanıyorum ki o akşam o kitabı almasam yaşamım bir daha eskisi gibi olmazdı. Kitabı sonraki üç gün içerisinde hızlıca okuyup bitirdim, adeta büyülenmiştim. Kitabın 1500’lü yılların günlük hayatını masalsı ve akıcı bir halde anlatıyor olması mı, var olduğundan hiç haberim olmayan Frenk usulü resim yapmanın başlarda Osmanlıda nasıl karşılandığının detaylı anlatışı mı, yoksa ilk defa her karakterin kendi sesiyle konuştuğu bir roman okuduğumdan mı bu kadar etkilenmiştim şimdi tam olarak bilemiyorum ama sonraki haftalarda tam bir açlık haliyle İskenderun halk kütüphanesine gidip Kara Kitap, Yeni Hayat gibi yazarın oldukça ağır kitaplarını da o yaşlarımın zengin hayal gücüyle bir çırpıda okumuştum. İçimde her zaman var olan okuma sevgisinin en büyük tetikleyicilerindendir yani Benim Adım Kırmızı.
Zaman geçtikçe, yaşım ilerledikçe, belirli bir okuma deneyimi geliştirince nerdeyse çocuk yaşta okuduğum bu kitapları tekrar okuma istediği doğdu içimde. Sanki bu güzelim kitapları okuduğum yaşlar, kitapların gerçek değerini teslim edemeyeceğim yaşlarmış da ben onlara bu yüzden haksızlık etmişim gibi gelmeye başladı. Kütüphanemde Orhan Pamuk’a ait kitapların çoğu, zamanla okumaları için başkalarına verip sonradan geri almayı unuttuğum için eksikti. Olanlar da bandrolsüz, genç yaşta seyyar sokak satıcılarından aldığım korsan versiyonlarıydı. Bu nedenlerle hem çok sevdiğim yazarın kitaplarını otuzlu yaşlarımın birikimiyle tekrar okumak, hem de kitapları eksiksiz -ve bandrollü- bir halde kütüphamde tamamlama isteğiyle yeniden satın aldım.
Hazır pandemi bizleri evlerin içine tıkmışken, ben de keyifle takrar okuma mutluluğuna eriştim.
Ne güzeldir bir kitabı ikinci kere okumak.
Benim Adım Kırmızı’yı daha 15 yaşımdayken, Arsuz’un kavurucu Ağustos akşamlarından birinde, bir panayır yerinde, sokak kaldırımına dizilmiş bandrolsüz kitap satan bir satıcıdan aldığımı çok net hatırlıyorum. Hatırlıyorum çünkü sanıyorum ki o akşam o kitabı almasam yaşamım bir daha eskisi gibi olmazdı. Kitabı sonraki üç gün içerisinde hızlıca okuyup bitirdim, adeta büyülenmiştim. Kitabın 1500’lü yılların günlük hayatını masalsı ve akıcı bir halde anlatıyor olması mı, var olduğundan hiç haberim olmayan Frenk usulü resim yapmanın başlarda Osmanlıda nasıl karşılandığının detaylı anlatışı mı, yoksa ilk defa her karakterin kendi sesiyle konuştuğu bir roman okuduğumdan mı bu kadar etkilenmiştim şimdi tam olarak bilemiyorum ama sonraki haftalarda tam bir açlık haliyle İskenderun halk kütüphanesine gidip Kara Kitap, Yeni Hayat gibi yazarın oldukça ağır kitaplarını da o yaşlarımın zengin hayal gücüyle bir çırpıda okumuştum. İçimde her zaman var olan okuma sevgisinin en büyük tetikleyicilerindendir yani Benim Adım Kırmızı.
Zaman geçtikçe, yaşım ilerledikçe, belirli bir okuma deneyimi geliştirince nerdeyse çocuk yaşta okuduğum bu kitapları tekrar okuma istediği doğdu içimde. Sanki bu güzelim kitapları okuduğum yaşlar, kitapların gerçek değerini teslim edemeyeceğim yaşlarmış da ben onlara bu yüzden haksızlık etmişim gibi gelmeye başladı. Kütüphanemde Orhan Pamuk’a ait kitapların çoğu, zamanla okumaları için başkalarına verip sonradan geri almayı unuttuğum için eksikti. Olanlar da bandrolsüz, genç yaşta seyyar sokak satıcılarından aldığım korsan versiyonlarıydı. Bu nedenlerle hem çok sevdiğim yazarın kitaplarını otuzlu yaşlarımın birikimiyle tekrar okumak, hem de kitapları eksiksiz -ve bandrollü- bir halde kütüphamde tamamlama isteğiyle yeniden satın aldım.
Hazır pandemi bizleri evlerin içine tıkmışken, ben de keyifle takrar okuma mutluluğuna eriştim.
nitindangwal's review against another edition
3.0
The book connected to me in patches. With a unique first person narrative chapters -which showed perspective of different characters was indeed a novel experience. As the premise is painting -story revolves around miniaturists -people with better sense of art would related well. For me, it was an average read. But for a simple and engaging writing style of Orhan Pamuk, this is surely going to be the first of his many books.
timna_wyckoff's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to for book club. Genius. The chronological but ever-changing POV (including in the middle of a murder, and also from the POV of images in paintings, and...the color red) was not like anything I've read before. And, I have to say I know a LOT more than I ever would have otherwise about the art history of Islamic miniatures (not something I ever sought out, but actually fascinating).