La bastarda de Estambul / The Bastard of Istanbul

from Saieeda

Beautifully written and full of life, this book is a must read. Every character has an amazing and powerful personality that defines both themselves and the lives of those around them. Welcome to a small world where families can be unknowingly reunited from across the globe and enemies find that ...

from trinibaby9

I love the way the various threads of each characters history are interwoven. A book of unique and beautiful women. My only complaint is that the there was alot of plot and chracter development at the beginning of the novel, but then this seems to be abandoned and it drives quickly ahead to a med...

from Violina

I'm oddly fascinated by Middle Eastern literature because in a way, I find myself to be a blend of Asya and Armanoush -- my past is a fleeting mystery and yet I feel bound to know and honour what little I know of my hertiage. Except that... I wasn't there, I don't know how to take grasp of it and...

from LynnB

I enjoyed this story about two families with an unknown connection. I liked learning about the Armenian genocide, and I liked the atmosphere portrayed in the book....lots of delicious food, a house full of women with very different values and beliefs who somehow get along. I also liked the issues...

from SandraArdnas

Shafak's novel is ambitious in what it sets out to explore but not nearly as in depth as those ambitions require. My main impression while reading was that everything is just sketched, from characters to historical events and its repercussions to endless lists of food served. Some characters are ...