10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

“10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World”, by Elif Shafak, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2019, and won several “Book of the Year” prizes; I can see why! What a wonderfully unique and exceptional novel.You know that old saying when people recount a near-death experience: “My Whole Life Passed Before My Eyes!” Well this is the story of the 10 minutes and 38 seconds after “Tequila” Leila, a prostitute in Istanbul, has been murdered and left in a dumpster. Her dying brain recalls her whole life in those minutes. We learn how she got where she is, and we learn about the lives of her five best friends, and we learn a lot about what being a female in Turkey was like in the 1950s through 1990 (spoiler alert: not great).The last third of the novel is about Leila’s five friends and how they intend to honor her after her death. It’s a beautiful (and thrilling!) story of friends who become family.This unusual structure for a “flash-back” story worked incredibly well! Leila’s life, though full of horrific abuses and some plain bad luck, was also full of loving and loyal friends. I highly recommend this fascinating and beautifully written award-worthy novel.

This novel has a very captivating and fresh start and the first half is a pageturner. However the second half loses its momentum and the ending is poor and loose. I'd be more satisfying if the book just stopped in 10'38''. In the second half not only does the plot lose its momentum, but it seems as though the author intentionally attempts to relate the tragic personal story of our protagonist with the history of Istanbul, which is unnecessary to me.

I have a new favorite author. The book was a complete surprise, a random pick. The book was an absolute treat. Thank you Eli Shafak!

Elida Shabaka is the greatest writer of this generation. I have read three of her books and each one is better than the last. Her view of humanity, and especially of those who are in the margins, is outstanding.

This novel begins with the main character, Leila, having been murdered and thrown in a dumpster in Istanbul. Before her brain completely dies, she thinks back on her short life—as a sexually abused teenager, as a prostitute, as a friend, and as a wife. The second half of the book focuses on her five special friends who proceed to honor Leila in death. Several themes are at work here, but the one that struck me the most was that of the contradictions within any religion’s set of beliefs. Hypocrisy among religious zealots apparently is common there as well. For example, Leila’s father has two wives, but Islam prohibits polygamy. In Turkey, corruption and reactionary laws reinforce the limitations placed on the lives of Leila and her misfit friends, including a transgender woman and a dwarf. A character who surfaces near the end of the book is a gay young man being forced into an arranged marriage. His outcome is one of the few bright spots in this novel, and, although it is beautifully written, this novel does not offer hope for Turkey’s progress. Leila’s friends mount sort of a minor rebellion against the treatment of Leila’s corpse, but it will have no impact on the country’s modus operandi, in which the deaths of prostitutes are not really cause for concern by law enforcement or by the general public. When it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose, targeting prostitutes, the authorities advise “normal” women not to panic. If a society is judged by its treatment of women, this novel indicates that Turkey has much room for improvement.

A novel by a female Turkish writer that builds on the theory that when the heart stops beating, the brain stays active for around 10 more minutes. Tequila Leila was murdered, and in those 10 minutes remaining she remembers her life and of his friends, all of them outcasts. They built a very strong group of 5 very peculiar friends and one would give his own life for the others. Through her experiences, we learn what life is like in Istambul and, as usual, that women had barely any importance. Her childhood was not easy, her father had two wives, and she never felt she belonged there. With time she decided to flee from home and settle down in Istambul. Life was hard and to earn her living she ended up as a prostitute, where she would gradually get to know her new-found friends. After her death, these friends felt they had the duty to honor her and that she deserved to have a decent burial. They would do whatever was needed to achieve it. A book about strong friendship and the desire to live.

There is so much filled in this tale of fiction that weaves so much history, and sadness- particuarly when one realizes this area from which the author has set the scenery- a land that was somewhat a meeting of two worlds, where warlords usurped people who had been there for centuries and built something else; alongside a faith- one gets a peak into the window- istanbul. Her story crafts for the western reader a reality not known, a harshness of a male oriented society - people in the west thing they have it bad- but even where prostitutes have rights- its not anywhere on the scale of where this story is set. Being a historical buff; her stories echoes the sentiments of tragedy- tragedy is a symptom of such dogma and that dogma entrenched is where the protagonist is. It is the most unfortunate thing to be born a women in the middle of the east asia, most certainly, where nomads and warlords of unspeakable cruelty removed greek civilization and built something else- but this tale is superb, and crafted so well. I think this is her best book. I am starting to read the others- Turkey besides the Azeri state- locks up a significant amount of journalism, so pleasant to read her insights crafted into fiction but truth underlying the dark belly of the holy piety of this city so attributed, but so far from attained . She is a great author with full of similes and metaphors and deep insight. This was a joy to stumble upon.

Muy bueno, te transporta a Estambul, y te llena de emociones

As a visitor to Istanbul I enjoyed the city as a tourist, but could sense that it was not really available to a visitor like me. This story combines deep understanding of this place & it's cultural complexities all while weaving a fascinating narrative replete with wonderful characters, gritty lives, and exploration of the religious, the spiritual and the metaphysical. Definitely sorry to turn the last page.

I had read The Island of Missing Trees by this author and loved the lyrical style of writing so was keen to try another of hers. This book had been short listed for the Booker Prize so should be good.There are 3 parts - the Mind, the Body and the Soul. Each of them is then split into small, named sections. The book has 306 pages and was first published in 2019.The concept of the novel reveals itself immediately. Leila has died and spends the next 10 minutes 38 seconds looking back at her life. Her memories jump around and we gradually build up a picture of her struggles, leading to an undignified demise in a rubbish bin.I love a book that uses an unusual premise. Whilst a dead person looking back isn't completely unique, it is certainly uncommon and the author achieves the images beautifully.The writing is lyrical and almost poetic, many times demanding that the readers slows down to savour each word. I could see the beauty of the country from different perspectives that are not often imagined to be beautiful.The characters around Leila are fantastic and full of life - they are all bold and eclectic but there are no stereotypes. They are all given time to form naturally, with great depth and sensitivity.At its heart this book is about a person, looking at her relationships with the world - good and bad.Because I loved the book so much I was carried away with the story, with no concern about plausibility. I cared for the people and wanted more of them when I got to the end.Like any good story, Leila's is not given easily to the reader. It is vaguely chronological and we only see snippets then need to fill in the rest with our imaginations - this is exactly how a story should be told as it engages readers.There are many strong elements to the book which weave together beautifully. The most prominent is Leila herself though and she dominants all thoughts and dialog throughout the whole story - this is a brilliant piece of structured and focused writing.Leila touches everyone and this presence is also felt by the reader.Unexpectedly comedy also shines through strongly - in a slapstick and dark style that gives great contrast to the other parts of the book. The scene around the grave is a genius piece or writing.So many times whilst reading I laughed or gasped out loud and the ending was no exception.The last few chapters are perfect and the Epilogue draws a satisfying conclusion. Particularly interesting is the Note to the Reader that explains a lot to me.

“10 minutes & 30 seconds in this strange world.” by Elif Shafak Best novel I’ve read since Keri Hulme’s Bone People. Scintillating 1001 Arabian Nights ending with an absurd black comedy of a road movie. Not that I read much fiction these days but…The best, most beautiful, beguiling and moving story I’ve read since KH

This book is a perfect 2020 read. Make new and interesting friends while traveling through Turkey using locals' eyes. Examine the conditions facing sex workers. Reexamine your own beliefs.