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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a complicated read. It took me a month to read this, which was somewhat unexpected. So, what is this book about?
My Name is Red is a story about a murder, set in 1600 in Istanbul. An illustrator is found murdered, and the book weaves a story where the reader is kept guessing as to the identity of the murderer. Along with it is woven a story of love and sex, and family relations in the Islamic world.
The book is written in a post-modern style, and after reading this, I understand why the author garnered a Nobel Prize for this book. Every chapter has a different narrator, so the story is told through various points of view. Even atypical narrators are utilized in this story, including a gold coin, a corpse, a picture of a horse, and so on. With that I am impressed with the creativity of the author.
However, it took me a long time before I grew to like this book. Several factors came into play, for this to be the case. First of all, I am not at all familiar with the cultural references that the book has with respect to Istanbul and the Islamic World in the Middle Ages. The fact that there are several narrators also made things complicated, since I had a little bit of difficulty keeping track of who was who in the stream of events. It was after I finished half of the book that I started liking this novel, when the possible murderers were narrowed down to three.
No matter how I do not like the story, however, praise should be given to the structure. This is not just a simple airport novel. This is literature. I had to make full use of my brain when I was reading this. This was no simple read, and it required me to analyze and exercise some critical thinking in order to understand this novel.
All in all, I believe this is a very mature novel. People who only want some swooning mystery or romance will not find this enjoyable. Only people who want something that stimulates the brain will find this a great read. If you're one of those people, then by all means pick this book up.
My Name is Red is a story about a murder, set in 1600 in Istanbul. An illustrator is found murdered, and the book weaves a story where the reader is kept guessing as to the identity of the murderer. Along with it is woven a story of love and sex, and family relations in the Islamic world.
The book is written in a post-modern style, and after reading this, I understand why the author garnered a Nobel Prize for this book. Every chapter has a different narrator, so the story is told through various points of view. Even atypical narrators are utilized in this story, including a gold coin, a corpse, a picture of a horse, and so on. With that I am impressed with the creativity of the author.
However, it took me a long time before I grew to like this book. Several factors came into play, for this to be the case. First of all, I am not at all familiar with the cultural references that the book has with respect to Istanbul and the Islamic World in the Middle Ages. The fact that there are several narrators also made things complicated, since I had a little bit of difficulty keeping track of who was who in the stream of events. It was after I finished half of the book that I started liking this novel, when the possible murderers were narrowed down to three.
No matter how I do not like the story, however, praise should be given to the structure. This is not just a simple airport novel. This is literature. I had to make full use of my brain when I was reading this. This was no simple read, and it required me to analyze and exercise some critical thinking in order to understand this novel.
All in all, I believe this is a very mature novel. People who only want some swooning mystery or romance will not find this enjoyable. Only people who want something that stimulates the brain will find this a great read. If you're one of those people, then by all means pick this book up.
This was an excellent book. I'm in love with Pamuk's style, with the beauty and eloquence in which he narrates the story. The story itself is at once intriguing and transporting. It's a window into the Ottoman world and their perspective of art, with a murder mystery in the background. It's not an easy read. In fact, I finished three other books while I read this. But it is definitely worth your time and attention.
A beautiful, intricate, polyphonic detective novel. Fascinating to learn so much about art in the Ottoman Empire and how it borderline transgressed Islamic doctrine. While not strictly forbidden, depiction was frowned upon, and the depiction of humans and animals as they really were ("the Frankish or Venetian style") was blasphemous. Artists painted in a flat, perspective-free style to render the world as Allah sees it - to paint in the portrait style of the West would be to paint it as humans see it, to give higher importance to closer objects rather than higher importance to objects Allah considers most important. Miniaturists, as a result, painted with bright, unshaded colours, high horizons, stylized faces, and little depth perspective. A particular sultan depicted in a miniature should not be readily identifiable from the painting and subjects (rulers excepted - being the Refuge of the World) should not figure in the centre of the page as though they were the centre of the world. A fascinating detective-cum-romance novel that was highly readable. Loved it.
slow-paced
"Čovjek u suštini ne traga za osmijehom na slici sreće, već za srećom u životu. Znaju to slikari, ali to je ono što ne bi mogli da naslikaju. Zbog toga na mjesto sreće življenja, postavljaju sreću posmatranja."
Istanbul, the heart of then known Asia Minor, now Turkey has had its share of rich culture since ancient times. From its unique geographical location serving as a bridge to reach the West, all the while being situated in the East, this novel conveys the socio-cultural dilemma it poses through art in the monolithic belief of the country. In turn, this would help in understanding present Turkey, as it addresses its situation according to its practices and belief that would give birth to a culture that is unique of its own.
This is a complicated read since it started in an unadulterated way of storytelling. From persons, animals, to things...it took me days pondering about its purpose and relevance to find the murderer among the midst of miniaturist! I enjoyed this colorful adventure, though I felt like I painstakingly plowed an enormous row of mountains and hills for days as it turned out as an art and history combined.
On the other hand, reading this might need some contextual knowledge about the nature of Islamic art, Islam, and Turkic history to fully appreciate the characters and the intricacies they try to portray. After all, the book as a whole is a subtle illustration of the Islamic society, past and present.
This is a complicated read since it started in an unadulterated way of storytelling. From persons, animals, to things...it took me days pondering about its purpose and relevance to find the murderer among the midst of miniaturist! I enjoyed this colorful adventure, though I felt like I painstakingly plowed an enormous row of mountains and hills for days as it turned out as an art and history combined.
On the other hand, reading this might need some contextual knowledge about the nature of Islamic art, Islam, and Turkic history to fully appreciate the characters and the intricacies they try to portray. After all, the book as a whole is a subtle illustration of the Islamic society, past and present.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
[2.5] listened on audiobook, not sure i could tell you what this book is, but !! i learned a lot and the narrator did a really nice job orating/storytelling so A+ for this one should it have been smaller dose