Welcome to Litsy!

#BookBinge Day 13: This one #InvolvesFuneral towards the end owing to a family curse. Paired with Turkish tea in Mado while in Istanbul 2 weeks back. As I noted in my review yesterday: “I would have to say that my reading of this novel had been significantly enriched by my being in Istanbul at the time that I was reading it.” More here: https://wp.me/pDlzr-pAz

#SummerSpecial Day 27: I love the #LipsLipstick in this book cover. Paired with a pistachio coupe with baklava here in Mado, Istanbul. Reputed to have the best pistachio ice cream in the world according to my Turkish host back in 2015. 🍨

#SummerSpecial Day 25: #ThreadTheNeedle - the Armenian grandmother in this story loves knitting, making it the perfect title for today‘s prompt. Reading this while at the Bosphorus-Golden Horn sunset cruise while vacationing in Istanbul with family right now. Arrived last Sunday and leaving for Bodrum in two days‘ time. 💕 My second visit in this beautiful city, first time was in 2015, but for work. Loving the city‘s vibe even more now. 💕

Loving this story of an extended Turkish-Armenian family despite their painful history. Wonderful characterisation, quirky contexts and genuine hurt spanning generations. About two-thirds through & hoping it ends as strongly as it began.

I hope to visit one day! #temptingtitles #withatown @eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Loved the cover and thought that this might be a bit easier read than the other books I bought. Also the story sounds very interesting!

Here is a picture 4/4

I just bought this ebook from my tbr list

This book weaves together the stories of two rival cultures, those of the Turks and the Armenians—peoples who haven‘t yet healed from the wound opened by the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Shafak uses the stories of two families—the Turkish Kazancis and the Armenian Tchakhmakchians—who live seemingly disparate lives on two different continents but are connected by a past that reveals how deeply interconnected these families and historical enemies are.

I enjoyed the relationship dynamics of the various women in this novel as well as being immersed in the food, aromas, and colors of Istanbul. The book was packed full of Turkish and Armenian culture and history, but it was also overwhelming and felt like too much may have been packed in without adequate time to fully explore it. But I recognize that this feeling also may just be due to my lack of knowledge in the history.

I really wanted to like this book. I grew up in Istanbul, where the Armenian genocide is still taboo. I appreciate Shafak's courage to pen the untouchable but the book wasn't well-crafted. It seems she wrote with a thesaurus nearby to sound impressive but her word choices didn't always fit and the prevalence of meandering backstories made the book clunky. I think she needed a good editor.

No matter how much weight you gained, your ears remain exactly the same , always loyal #elifshafak #the_bastard_of_istanbul

I really enjoyed this rich novel set in Istanbul. Shafak explores Turkish history through rebellious Asya and her family. Layered with textures, food and strong women. I loved the diverse, eccentric characters, the chaos & push-pull dynamics of family life & the humour. Shows the complexity of Turkish-Armenian relations & the importance of listening. Not as fluid & pared back as 10 Minutes but still excellent. Up now on Books On The Go. 🎧

I loved most of this book, with it‘s evocative descriptions of Istanbul, and I enjoyed getting to know all of the women who make up this story of two families, one Turkish and one Armenian.

There were just one or two parts where I thought ‘really?!‘ and I didn‘t like the way the two stories ‘linked together‘ at the end but that didn‘t spoil the overall experience.

TW for rape

#readingeurope2020 #turkey

Holy. Guac. Omole. This is an incredible read. The story is compelling, with a twist at the end that even this experienced mystery reader did not see coming. Equally well-crafted is the commentary on collective memory and forgetting, and the place of memory among oppressed populations versus their historical oppressors.

Just read this book.

A warm, shrewd and satirical novel about Turkish and Armenian culture and identity, told through a large cast of eccentric—yet believable—women in Istanbul. Satirical and a touch mystical, with lots of witty dialogue, plus serious undercurrents: repercussions of past criminal acts that reverberate through to the present. An engrossing #audiobook narrated by Laural Merlington.

Sometime ago I got hooked on Johnny Cash and that was it. Ever since then I stopped listening to anything else. I like Cash. He depresses me so deeply I am not depressed anymore.

I‘m home from my latest travels. My eyes are drooping so I think I will be going right to sleep instead of reading. 😴

Asya: “Haven‘t you ever heard of a vegetarian?”
Zehila: “Of course I have. But do not forget, my dear, that you are a Kazanca, not a vegetarian.”

(I‘ve shortened the text to include just this part of the exchange between 18-year-old Asya and her aunt Zehila. I love Shafak‘s use of humour in her characterizations.)

I've not read much fiction based in Turkey, so it was good to learn about it's history and the links with Armenians.
There are loads of strong, diverse, female characters in this book and the men who appear are all unlikable in one way or another. I don't know if that is what the author is going for in general, or if that's just the way the characters worked out in this book.

The writing in this one was great, but the story fell flat for me. It was both too much and too little. There was a lot of extraneous material as it seemed like the author was in love with this Turkish family and just wanted to tell us all about them. There could have been more focus on the relationship of the characters and the Armenian genocide. I felt it wasn‘t sufficiently woven into the story, except for some coincidental plot points. 3⭐️

1. Road trip around the US
2. Secretary at a county jury commission
3. American Quartet by Warren Adler
4. The Dagger by Pam Anders
5. @whatsthEStorey @wanderinglynn @Betty

@Eggs #wondrouswednesday

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.

Just started this last night and I can already tell it‘s going to be a new favorite!! #currentlyreading #librarybooks

#backpackeurope travelogue *fictional*
Country 60: Turkey (repeat) to catch my flight home to the US. I've had a wonderful time in Europe! This time in Turkey, I relaxed at some Turkish baths and shopped for some last minute souvenirs at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul.
One discovery this trip is the author Elif Shafak - I read her 2x this trip. Wonderful writer. I'm glad I learned more about the Armenian genocide, as it was a plot point here.
3.5/5

Made progress on my book for #backpackeurope today. After Turkey, I‘m heading back home to Japan!

Quote from NPR's TED Talks podcast, not the tagged book. Both are worth your time.
What are some of your favorite books about lives and worlds that are very different from yours?

The blurb says the book is powerful, and whimsical. I doubt that but it's entertaining nevertheless. Read and forget.

#ReadingResolutions
@Jess7
#photochallenge #foreigncountry
#istanbul

So it's actually not a good idea to judge a book by it's cover. Oh so slow

Well this book gets some really mixed reviews on GR but I mostly loved it. I‘m guessing the ending is what makes people feel very split.

Jam packed with characters, themes, and symbolism, this can be a confusing read. It centers on the past, present, and futures of two families: A Turkish family in Istanbul and an Armenian family in San Francisco. This is a story of, and about, women, their relationships, and their heritage. Amy 👇🏼

This book is giving me some serious wanderlust! #readaroundtheworld #turkey

I am going to try and read this before the end of the month for #readaroundtheworld #Turkey

Have you all finished your Turkey books? What did you read and did you like it? I‘ll post the next destination tomorrow and you can give you‘re recommendations.

I was going to read but my mum hijacked me into helping with lunch. #ReadAroundTheWorld #Turkey @JenP

This book is fascinating and I‘m loving it very much. #ReadAroundTheWorld #Turkey @JenP

Loving this book so far, so a heart-shaped infuser is kinda appropriate. #ReadAroundTheWorld @JenP #Turkey

Cute little duckling in my mug! Reading my February book for #ReadAroundTheWorld @JenP #Turkey

Bailing on this one. I‘m half through and I don‘t care if I get back to it. Not a good sign.

Half way through and this isn‘t holding my attention. Not sure why. Think I‘ll push a bit more and see if it clicks. I‘m not connecting with the characters and the Turkey/Armenia subplot seems so futile. (Confession: I‘m also reading Sand Castle Girls, about the Armenian genocide.) #tobailornottobail #turkey #armenia

So intrigued by this listen. Must not add another book to my currently reading pile until I finish one. #24in48 is coming at a good time. #readaroundtheworld #turkey

30/357. I forgot how heavy (in a good way) Elif Shafak's writings are. I'm taking my time adjusting to this book but I think I'll love it; we'll see.

Another Kindle book on sale for $1.99 on Amazon today! #kindle #kindledeal

#riotgrams Day 2: Where I Read-Linus let's me read here from time to time provided he gets his treats

Sitting by the fire after a tiring day of skiing? Lovely. Sitting by a GAS fire on a breezy day? Stinky. #readingoutdoors #snowday #weneeddiversebooks

Fire in the woodstove, piano playlist on Spotify, and husband got sent home designated sick-in-quarters. Perfect.

My nightstand, filled with almost all DNFs. The whole getting-dark-at-3-pm thing has really messed with my sleep habits, and subsequently, my focus. Stupid winter. Stupid unemployment.

Husband caught me nose-deep in rereading this one. I had put it on my library holds a week before the attempted coup, feels timely for obvious reasons.