Have been trying for quite some time to finish up a book that I bought and I successfully managed to do it last night.
The Book: The Bastard of Istanbul
Author: Elif Shafak
"The Bastard of Istanbul," set in the United States and Turkey, concerns two families — one Turkish, living in Istanbul and the other Armenian, divided between Tucson, Arizona and San Francisco.
The Bastard of Istanbul refers to 19-year-old Asya, a rebellious young Turkish woman who simply adores Johnny Cash's music. She lives in a household with her mother and aunts and her only uncle has emigrated to America. Her uncle's Armenian-American stepdaughter, Armanoush, sneaks off to Istanbul to learn more about her Armenian past. Asya and Armanoush become good friends, intrigued by each other's culture.
The family this young woman encounters is a confusing swirl of four generations of women that includes a great-grandmother suffering from Alzheimer's disease; a disapproving, distant and angry grandmother; her four daughters; and one great-granddaughter. The eldest daughter is a self- styled Muslim mystic; another is a high school teacher, and yet another a schizophrenic. The youngest runs a tattoo parlor and has an illegitimate daughter, the bastard of the novel's title.
The story like a roller coaster ride has its up's and downs and results in a secret hat links the two families pasts, tracing back to the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres.
I loved the wry humor and the social observations, as well as the author putting the personal lives of her people in a larger political tableau.
The one thing that you cannot miss about the book is that it truly describes life..its complications. That is how I have known my life to be.. full of entangles and complications.
The characters in The Bastard of Istanbul are so alive they leap off the page to sit beside you on the couch. What women! Brave ones, silly ones, intellectuals and dopes.
Right now after reading the book my mind is clogged with so many questions-
What if we learn brutal truths about our families’ pasts? What if we learn about the atrocities from which we are all descended? Are we victims? Are we perpetrators? Aren’t we all suffering the consequences? Once we gain knowledge of the truth of our past, what should we do with that knowledge?
Grrrrrrrr......wish I had the answers to it..
Will try figuring out the answers..Till then in the words of the lead character of the book..
"Whatever falls from the sky above, thou shall not curse it..That includes the rain..."
P.S. Do let me know about any good books that you would suggest me to read.Thanks!!
16 Comments:
your review is damn good :D i should go and take a look for the book. i love every stories about the finding the truth, whether it's novel or true story. it's a good recommendation :)
have a good one!
cheers, m.
Well what you said does make lot sense..
Hope you read the book..Do let me know if you do so..
Just a check: Is the Bridges of Madison County the same one on which a movie has been made as well..
If that is the one I must tell that the movie was good and going by the movie..I think book would definitely be awesome..
life is like that...
skeletons in out closets? each to his own......
your read is quite interesting Dev,
have a nice day!
i will be having a triple medical celebration. It is a mini medical blog thing game, not a contest, but a game - a posting game. In this regard, I am looking for bloggers who are willing to sponsor EC credits, 125x125 ad space or cash (thru paypal). Aside from these prizes, I, personally, will be giving medical freebies to the lucky winners and to the sponsors as well. Winners and sponsors who will receive my medical freebies will be chosen using Random.org.
I am looking forward to hear any from u!
gacias!!
gagay
gagay,MD
The book seems interesting!!! I just love to read books.. Am currently reading, "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde.. It was published looong back!!! A must read if you havent!!!
However every family/everyBODY has skeletons in their closet...it what makes us ,who we are today. I think when you take that knowledge and LEARN from it...is powerful:)
For example: There are 7 children in our family...I'm 2nd to the youngest...The second one who even graduated HIGH SCHOOL. Sad huh?
I learned from my family and my surroundings what NOT to be...in life.
I love my family and would never want to change them for anything.
There doesn't have to be an answer for everything...just a lesson.
Am I way off base?
Wud definitely look for the book you recommended..
You are absoultely right that we have so much to learn from people around us..
Its so great to see people valuing family..Its great to hear that..
May you get all the happiness in life!! Amen..
Cheers,
D