Halide's Gift: A Novel

by Frances Kazan

Set in Constantinople in the dying days of the Ottoman empire, Halide’s Gift is the story of a family with a secret, and a society in turbulent transition. At the heart of Frances Kazan’s beguiling novel are two sisters—one flamboyant and mischievous, the other shy and full of dreams—bound by an extraordinary friendship and torn apart by their love of radically different men. In the tradition of Tracy Chevalier’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Halide’s Gift is an intimate portrait of a young woman of restrained passions and fiercely independent mind. A vibrant fusion of history and fiction, it tells the story of the legendary Halide Edib, the daughter of Sultan Abdulhamid’s first secretary, whose allegiance to the spiritual and traditional world of her mother and grandmother was destined to collide with the tantalizing promise of freedom.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

376 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2001

Reviews

[Kayla Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halide’s Gift by Frances Kazan was a book I acquired from a Half Price Books mystery fiction box. I was intrigued by the promise of a story about a strong (real) Turkish woman from the turn of the last century. Unfortunately, the story fell incredibly flat for me. Halide Edib was certainly an incredible woman, but I don’t think this novel did her justice. I will say that I haven’t read any historical fiction from this time period, and it was a nice change up. For someone who normally reads books from the WWII era, to go back prior to WWI was very different.

The book is fairly short at 345 pages but it took me over a week to finish the book. I often found myself dozing off, or distracted by the environment around me. If I love a book at this length, I can finish it in three days and completely forget my current situation.

I’ve read some historical fiction lately that drew me into the past, and I felt transported in time. Kazan seemed to make attempts at setting the scene, but it just didn’t work for me. I had a hard time visualizing the scenes, and was not fully immersed in the Ottoman Empire. Kazan used Turkish words throughout the book, and even included a glossary which was appreciated. Multiple characters were known by their formal title, and regular name which was incredibly confusing. It would change within a paragraph and I don’t understand the choice to do so.

My biggest issue is honestly the author’s note at the beginning. It rubbed me the wrong way and made it seem like she couldn’t be bothered to do the research to make this a closer retelling of Halide’s Life. While I understand she lived a long time ago, surely there is enough information that such a note wouldn’t be necessary. There was plenty of information in the epilogue (that is more like an appendix as it’s 100% factual) and that was probably my favorite part of the book.

Honestly, I could of DNF’d this book. I only kept reading because Halide was a trailblazer of her time, and I would of felt guilty giving up on her story. The potential was there, but ultimately the book fell short.

2.75 🌟

[Melinda · Rating 1 out of 5]

A richer, fuller story could have been told by a better writer. All of the characters and settings required for a great story are here, but the narritive left me wanting more. Ms. Kazan obviously has ties to the publishing world due to her marriage to the famed director. This book fails as a drama because I didn't care aboout any of the characters as they held no special interest for me because they were so one-dimentional and Halide never realizes her "gift". The book dosen't really hang together. You can find something else better to read... try just about anything.

[Homa S · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a decent book: the story and the characters were interesting, though the writing style left something to be desired. The narration was a little clunky and I thought a lot of it was a thinly veiled history lesson that wouldn't be necessary if the author spent more time actually weaving a story based on the main character, Halide.

I really enjoy reading about the experience of women in different times and cultures, and this was no exception. It is based on the life of Turkish feminist author who actually existed, so that was cool. I didn't realize until partway through that this is the story of the first Turkish girl to graduate from the American school and so it made me love Halide for what she is even more. However, I was a little disappointed that certain parts of her life had less elaboration than others (large parts of her school life, and all of a sudden, she's married?)

Good read, not the best, but not the worst either. Not sure I would read it again.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely very readable and engaging. but I would have wished for Halide to be a little more nuanced, she was so good and unselfish all the time. maybe she really was. Also Idk if it is the author thinking men are trash or what as she wrote this, but all the men (well most) were serious trash in this. Even considering the time period etc. Especially the POV of Halide's first husband. I liked her grandmother, and Mahmoure, and all the descriptions of food & tea & huge complexes. it would be interesting to learn more about the history of this time & region. My mother got this for me a million years ago and I found it in her basement recently. Once again, I don't remember reading it before at all!!

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A page turner is what I'd term this book, and from the very first page, Halide invites us into her world which grows from her point of view to that of her father, grandmother, sister and beloved...and with every new turn of events you cannot help but wish her the best.

[Karen Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it! Well-written story about a real person, Halide Edib, and her amazing life and accomplishments during Ottoman times.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story-telling of a woman in Turkey at the end of the Ottoman empire. Conflicts of tradition versus the new European ideas, religion, loyalty, family. Very good.

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to see a story featuring a prominent woman in modern Turkish history.

[Christa Eker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Between 3.5 and 4. I did enjoy the read although I found myself wanting more....

[Pinar Celebi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This year in January I had read a fabulous book (Şu Çılgın Türkler) about the Turkish War of Independence. One of the main characters of that book was Halide Edip Adivar, who served as a soldier in the Turkish military during the Turkish War of Independence. She was a Turkish novelist and feminist political leader. She was best known for her novels criticizing the low social status of Turkish women and what she saw as the disinterest of most women in changing their situation. I read some of her novels during my high school and university years and really liked them. When I saw a book about Halide written by a foreign author about the early years of her life, I didn't think much and decided to buy the book and read it immediately.

Unfortunately, the book was a total disappointment for me. I gave the book 2 stars because I managed to read it off rather quickly. Otherwise, I'd have given 1 star for sure. As I read quite a lot about the Ottoman history, I can easily say that the way the historical background of the last decades of the Ottomans was described in this book was rather poor and shallow. For people who do not know much about the Ottoman history, it may even be quite confusing.

About the story of Halide, the author herself said that she only knew the basics of Halide's life and she just imagined her childhood. I found her imagination lacking creativity when it comes to telling the story about how Halide had become a feminist political leader and a soldier. The Islamic values in her life was overstressed in the book. I think the author did it to show the reader how sharp Halide's transition was but I didn't find it interesting at all.

[Kelly Ballard · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about this book. 99% of the book I enjoyed thoroughly – exciting plot, interesting characters, the flavor of a different culture…but unfortunately the hated 1% is the ending – which sucked. It was as if Ms. Kazan just decided, “I’m bored with this, new project please.”

Suddenly the plot halts and there is an epilogue providing scant details of each character’s end days. What? Who married who? What? The child? Are you kidding me?

The problem with bad ending to me is I have invested time, energy and my emotions in these pages, come on I deserve a little closure! I bet she would break up by text message…

Thus I can not recommend this book, however good, because I am still annoyed by how crappy the ending was…If you are so blessed not to get hung up on endings – have at it and sink into the Ottoman Empire - intrigue, murder, politics and sex abound…

[Addison Public Library]

The dichotomy of two worlds is revealed in this historical fiction novel based on the life of Halide Edib. Halide's father recognizes that his daughter has a genius intellect and supports her in her educational interests. He understands that the world is moving in a more modern direction and encourages Halide to be more westernized. While Halide takes full advantage of her freedom, she has a secret gift that pulls her towards older customs. She hears spirits. This internal struggle accentuates the parallels that coexist within the novel. She is divided on many issues. What is it to be a woman, a mother, a teacher, a wife in last days of the Ottoman Empire?

--TB 2014

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The themes explored in this are interesting, but Kazan didn't delve deep enough into any of them. Certain plot lines were abandoned completely--Halide's time in school and feelings of not belonging there were barely given any attention. From the summary, I thought Mahmoure's story would occupy half of the author's attention, but Mahmoure was absent for half of the book. I'm awarding extra stars mostly because of how the author explains the political situation of living under a totalitarian ruler--that seemed relevant--but aside from that, this was some frustrating reading. I am, however, interested in reading the actual Halide's actual work...so maybe that makes things worthwhile.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

fiction based on a real person, halide edib, the first muslim to graduate from the american college for girls in 1901. the book focuses on the first half of her life. she was raised in a traditional islamic household, but her father was determined she receive a western education. the book provides a lot of information on early twentieth century turkish history, which i kind of got lost in. but overall, it was a good read. and it made me want to read some of halide's actual novels and memoirs.

[Sandra F · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book a while back, so I might not remember everything clearly, but I do know that I really liked it because of the point of view (a fictionalized biography of a real feminist political leader) and the setting (turn of the century Turkey, with wonderful glimpses at the last of the old world life and culture of Istanbul). That was the really fascinating stuff. What did I not like? It got kinda hokey as the novel went along, and the ends were tied up too hastily for the book to be satisfying enough. So overall, the two things sort of balanced out into a so-so book.

[Dona Krueger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just completed the second reading of Halide's Gift. Apparently it hadn't made the impact the first reading; that it did the last.

Fantstic history of the Ottoman Empire and it's fall through the eyes of a gifted young woman of intelligence and strength.

Knowing that the facts of this book are truth, made it a very compelling read.

[Sharyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel was set in Constantinople in the dying days of the Ottoman empire 1889-1902. It is a believable story about a young woman raised with strict Muslim traditions, who evolves with the times.

[Kiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautiful, fictionalized biography of Halide Edip by Frances Kazan brings the hitherto cloistered world of the Ottoman and its women, brilliantly alive. A joy to read, specially by those who know and love Turkey and Turkish culture.

[Di · Rating 2 out of 5]

so so...

[Farah Adel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Worst book ever lol.. Ottoman empire? !!!

[Hannah Katsman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author of this book could not decide whether she was writing an historical novel or a history book about the end of the Ottoman Empire. It could have done with more showing and less telling.

[Uintah Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this years ago and loved it. Haven't found it when I've looked for it.

[Jennie Goldberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a worthwhile read as I was travelling in Turkey and it was enjoyable, just not gripping