The Bastard of Instanbul by Elif Shafak


The Bastard of Istanbul is well worth reading.  Elif Shafak created an atmosphere that engulfs the reader.  The characters thoughts and actions had me squirming in my seat at times and admiring their bravery at others.  A full realm of emotion was unleashed in The Bastard of Istanbul.  Shafak's words pull the reader into a history with two sides that reminds us there are always two sides to every story.  The interwoven family dynamics and secrets are beautifully addressed in a way that makes the reader ache for the characters at times and celebrate at others.  Shafak also manages to connect American culture, Armenian culture, and Turkish culture by creating characters with distinct backgrounds and strongly held beliefs that interact in a believable manner with  very little sterotyping.  A heart touching story that feels real and reminds us that all cultures have much more in common than they realize or wish to admit.

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