Helpful Score: 6
I could not get any farther than Chapter 5 (around page 75). The author was still introducing characters, no story was developing, and mostly inside jokes about Turkish government and society abounded. Absolutely boring.
It took me a little while to get into this novel, but I am so glad that I stayed with it. I learned to love the characters. They are eccentric, uncomfortable, flawed, empathetic, and all too human. This novel delves into the nature of human relationships, the tension between past and present, and the role of coincidence in our lives. The author is able to blur the lines between good and evil in a way that mirrors life. Rarely is anything in this world completely black or white. I am only giving this novel four stars instead of five because I thought that there were questions left unanswered, and I felt almost as if I were left hanging at the end.
This book wasnt really my cup of tea. It was not a bad book. I just didn't connect with it much like I thought I would. I did honestly almost give up on the book, but I didn't and I am glad that I read it. Although, I really cant say much more than that. The characters, are human, you follow their struggles, and their life.
I had high hopes for this book -- the subject and history matter had so much to offer. I was very disappointed. The author chose what I call a sell-ploytation -- choosing a subject, an interesting title, and then totally sell out. The characters were unbelievable, totally unlikeable, and plot was plodding, the connection to the historical context was virtually nonexistent, and the final hook, what I believe was the author got into print, was unbelieveable. What a waste of a historical setting and a sell out to those who wanted a believable novel of what actually happened in the advertised history. I give this novel zero stars. I have no idea how it got into print.
