Elif Shafak's The Bastard of Istanbul is a story of two seemingly unconnected families: a Turkish family in Istanbul and an Armenian family in the United States. The plot revolves around the lives of four sisters of the Kazanci family, and their estranged brother who lives in Arizona. The brother's wife has an Armenian daughter from her previous marriage, and thus the story of unexpected connections begins.
Shafak candidly talks about the Armenian genocide in Turkey, and at the same time explores the lives of individual women who were touched by this horrific past. The novel also has an unexpected family secret (which I did not see coming at all), and which unravels when several of the main characters finally all get together in Turkey. The novel also zeros in on two young women of the new generation: a Turkish girl named Asiya and an Armenian-American Armanoush. Both of them yearn to know more about the past of their families and search for their own identity.
Shafak skillfully weaves the stories of several generations of the two families into one amazing tapestry of unlikely friendships and unexpected twists and turns. Her characters are bold and interesting. You cannot help but get attached to them. Her style is that of an experienced story-teller, who draws you in from the very start and whose voice stays with you long after the book is over. Reading this book is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it.
Shafak candidly talks about the Armenian genocide in Turkey, and at the same time explores the lives of individual women who were touched by this horrific past. The novel also has an unexpected family secret (which I did not see coming at all), and which unravels when several of the main characters finally all get together in Turkey. The novel also zeros in on two young women of the new generation: a Turkish girl named Asiya and an Armenian-American Armanoush. Both of them yearn to know more about the past of their families and search for their own identity.
Shafak skillfully weaves the stories of several generations of the two families into one amazing tapestry of unlikely friendships and unexpected twists and turns. Her characters are bold and interesting. You cannot help but get attached to them. Her style is that of an experienced story-teller, who draws you in from the very start and whose voice stays with you long after the book is over. Reading this book is an unforgettable experience. I highly recommend it.
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