A Strangeness in My Mind

I have enjoyed this book and I thought the descriptions really evoked a sense of what Turkey was like and how it has developed over time. I liked the way, throughout the book, there were inserts from other characters in the books providing thoughts and information from their viewpoint, allowing you to get a more rounded view on what was happening. The translation of this book was good and it did not feel disjointed in anyway, which can sometimes be the case when books are translated into another language. I think that there were some repetitive sections, but overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This is beautifully written, strongly evokes Istanbul and has some great insights into characters and relationships. It could have done with a bit more editing. The first third is not as good as the rest of the book. It's too slow and not as enjoyable as the latter part, where lots happens.

The book is rich in scene-setting, and is affectionate without being sentimental.

There is such depth there, so many layers historical, political and philosophical, which immerse the readers and their senses. For those of us who have visited Istanbul, the atmosphere of the city brought back many memories, -- in fact the city becomes a character in the book- and we were overwhelmed with it's sights ,noises and smells.

The character of Mevlut is well-drawn, depicting a man in his time, trying to eke a living for his family and stay out of trouble ( not always easy) , a man seeped in tradition , yet at the same time, a liberal and moral man within the constraints of a repressive and corrupt society.

We follow him as he roams the city, selling his boza , and meeting his customers and packs of stray dogs... The dogs are a very real menace in Istanbul, even today. The book is very detailed, and some found this rather tedious, particularly when Pamuk describes how boza is prepared. The pace of the book is slow, and these details reflect that.

Some characters in the book were not easy to relate to, ( eg Bozkurt) but certainly Samiha and Rayiha are sympathetic and warmly drawn . In fact all the women in the book are independently -minded, although they are living in a patriarchal society. The section where Vediha vents her fury at all the injustices thrown upon her, is quietly uplifting. - Is it Right?

The book is essentially a love story, in the tradition of the sweeping Asian family sagas spanning decades, and turns about completely at the end, coming full circle. We liked the technique of the characters putting their own viewpoint to a particular event, finding their voice.

We discussed the difficulties of works in translation, and with Turkish a language so different from English, we wondered how much the translator had to re-write from the original. We could not find any information about the translator, but noticed that there was some Americanisation of phrases and words...which did not detract from the whole work.

This is one of those books that is difficult for me to review. Whilst I can appreciate it's qualities, I didn't enjoy reading it.

It is very well written and constructed. I particularly like the way the voices of some of the main characters are inserted to give their viewpoint on events that the narrator has been describing. It also describes Turkey's extremely turbulent history; reminding us that there are still many people around the world whose safety hinges on the whim of whichever faction currently has power. Pamuk also draws a very vivid picture of the changing face of Istanbul over fifty years or so.

However, I found it extremely repetitive. For example Mevlut's nightly routine is described over and over and,whilst I can see that it reflects his actual life, I soon found it tedious. Also, with one or two exceptions, I had no clear picture of any of the characters.

I was well over half way through before I felt a glimmer of interest and by then reading it had already become a chore.

I do appreciate that this story is written in a style which would be familiar to Turkish readers and if you enjoy family sagas then you will probably love it.

So far, so good - I haven't finished this amazing story yet, but reading it is an utterly immersive experience. I spent some time in Istanbul in the 70s so some of the beautifully intricate scene-setting takes me right back to that chaotic period. The characters are delineated with tenderness and a lack of sentimentality. It's certainly a long book, but well worth the time to inhabit this lost world.

Pretty much a perfect multi-faceted book , rich with multiple voices, and so humane. Istanbul is wonderfully depicted, it's change over time, and it's people, that it becomes a character in the story. It is essentially a love story, of people and the city itself. I itch to return to it.. What a wonderful writer Pamuk is...

Jan Dawson from Warwickshire Super Readers Group