I N C L U D E S A F F I L I A T E L I N K S
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Title: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange WorldAuthor: Elif Shafak
Published: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 312
Rating: 4/5
Summary:
As Leila lies dead in a back alley in Istanbul, before her brain completely shuts down, she recalls memories from her life and remembers each of her closest friends, all of whom are desperately trying to find her.
Review:
This was an intense and fantastic book.
This story really brings its setting and especially Istanbul with all of its different parts to life and I loved that. The writing brings forth scents and sounds and it's all full of color, and amidst all of this, we meet all these different characters, with the main one at the centre, and get to know them and their lives.
The setup of the main character looking back at different parts of her life and reflecting on it as she's slowly passing away works really well. I really like the themes this story explores and how this group of characters are sort of on the outside of society and we see their pain and suffering, but also beauty and happiness. It's a tender story filled with compassion.
My only slight complaint with this is that I think the first part of the story worked better than the second, and I kind of wish the book been an extended version of the first part, because it was just so, so good.
This is my first book by Shafak and after having finished it, I definitely want to look into her other works as well. Well worth the read.
You can read more about it on Goodreads
