The latest book I have read ...

Having already been to Turkey and Armenia as soon as I read the synopsis of this novel I was almost instantaneously drawn to it despite not knowing anything about its author (which is a shame on my part, taking into account the fact that Elif Shafak is an award-wining novelist known to be one of the most widely read women in Turkey).

I found The Bastard of Istambul to be brilliant and intelligently written as it gradually introduced us into the story of two young ladies and their families - one Turkish and the other one Armenian American, as well as the extent in which their "histories" were secretely and mysteriously interwoven.



In my opinion the conflict between Turks and Armenians and the denial of the Armenian genocide is dealt with in the novel in a rather understanding and at times even compassionate way with numerous underlying questions, some of which will remain as such, though it nearly cost the author a three year prison sentence for having therein insulted the "Turkishness" 

I could have copied down many ot the book's meaningful sentences, yet chose to just write down a few and re-read the  whole book again sometime later, when not under its contageous spell and certainly in a less avid reading pace.

"If you have no reason or ability to accomplish anything, then just practice the art of becoming."

"Imagination was a dangerously captivating magic for those compelled to be realistic in life, and words can be poisonous for those destined to be silenced."

"Once there was. Once there wasn't. God's creatures were as plentiful as grains and talking too much was a sin, for you could tell what you shouldn't remember  and you could remember what you shouldn't tell."

The bastard of Istambul is really worth being read and re-read and one thing I am sure I'll certainly buy more of this particular author's books.