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The Saint of Incipient Insanities
The Saint of Incipient Insanities is the comic and heartbreaking story of a group of twenty-something friends, and their never-ending quest for fulfillment.
Omer, Abed and Piyu are roommates, foreigners all recently arrived in the United States. Omer, from Istanbul, is a Ph.D. student in political science who adapts quickly to his new home, and falls in love with the bisexual, suicidal, intellectual chocolate maker Gail. Gail is American yet feels utterly displaced in her homeland and moves from one obsession to another in an effort to find solid ground. Abed pursues a degree in biotechnology, worries about Omer's unruly ways, his mother's unexpected visit, and stereotypes of Arabs in America; he struggles to maintain a connection with his girlfriend back home in Morocco. Piyu is a Spaniard, who is studying to be a dentist in spite of his fear of sharp objects, and is baffled by the many relatives of his Mexican-American girlfriend, Algre, and in many ways by Algre herself.
Keenly insightful and sharply humorous, The Saint of Incipient Insanities is a vibrant exploration of love, friendship, culture, nationality, exile and belonging.
Translated into Turkish: Araf
Omer, Abed and Piyu are roommates, foreigners all recently arrived in the United States. Omer, from Istanbul, is a Ph.D. student in political science who adapts quickly to his new home, and falls in love with the bisexual, suicidal, intellectual chocolate maker Gail. Gail is American yet feels utterly displaced in her homeland and moves from one obsession to another in an effort to find solid ground. Abed pursues a degree in biotechnology, worries about Omer's unruly ways, his mother's unexpected visit, and stereotypes of Arabs in America; he struggles to maintain a connection with his girlfriend back home in Morocco. Piyu is a Spaniard, who is studying to be a dentist in spite of his fear of sharp objects, and is baffled by the many relatives of his Mexican-American girlfriend, Algre, and in many ways by Algre herself.
Keenly insightful and sharply humorous, The Saint of Incipient Insanities is a vibrant exploration of love, friendship, culture, nationality, exile and belonging.
Translated into Turkish: Araf
732 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
119 people are currently reading
4081 people want to read
About the author
Elif Shafak
60 books33.7k followersElif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and the most widely read female author in Turkey. She writes in both Turkish and English, and has published seventeen books, eleven of which are novels. Her work has been translated into fifty languages. Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK, including St Anne's College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow. She is a member of Weforum Global Agenda Council on Creative Economy and a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBT rights and freedom of speech, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice a TED Global speaker, each time receiving a standing ovation. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she has been awarded the title of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people who would make the world better. She has judged numerous literary prizes and is chairing the Wellcome Prize 2019. www.elifshafak.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
March 4, 2022
O carte pe care am citit-o pe nerăsuflate, dorind, în același timp, să nu se mai termine. M-am bucurat să regăsesc plăcerea cu care am citit "Bastarda Istanbulului" și să gust din nou din delicioasa scriitură a lui Elif Shafak, o autoare întru totul pe gustul meu.
August 26, 2009
Well, maybe it's because I am a Turkish student going to college in the United States myself, but I adored this book. The language is not as good as The Bastard of Istanbul; in some points it looks like Elif Safak is a student who just learned some SAT words and using them to show off. Yet of course, this is irrelevant for me, as I fell in love with all the characters of the book and identified myself especially with Omer, the main character. This novel expresses the feeling of "in between"ness in a wonderful way, culminating in the terrific ending that takes place between two continents. It should be no surprise that the Turkish name of the book is "Araf" or "purgatory" as all the characters of the novel are experiencing their own purgatories in one way or another. Definitely a must read for anyone who lives or studies out of his motherland.
January 24, 2008
See, the thing is that for me, when a book's main character measures the time in his life by the amount of times he's listened to a song (esp. a good song), I tend to fall in love with him a little. It's sort of the same for me when a main character is a photographer. And when you fall in love with a main character, you end up thinking more highly of the book involved and also..you forget that it's a work of fiction because it seems so real. Then, you have to consider that if every work of fiction is somewhat autobiographical, the author has pretty good taste...so good, in fact, that you feel some emotional connection even though you are never likely to meet.
Such is the case for Elif Shafak's The Saint of Incipient Insanities. In many ways, it's just as much a book about the immigrant university experience as it is relationships and intimacy, psychosis, and various personalities being thrown in the mix of postmodern soup. (We are past the primordial stages, are we not and no one uses the term premodern because we are always trying to present ourselves as more progressive) Alas, I'm diverging from this topic. This book gets a 4 instead of a 5 because I wasn't too thrilled with the ending as much as I wanted to be. It seemed too lucid and made up whereas Omer (the main character) putting on his headphones to blast The Dead Kennedys or Nick Cave made a whole lot more sense to me.
Oh and totally off topic but from now on, I'm going to refer to myself as a premodern being. I don't think the apocalypse is happening tomorrow. I think the world is going to drift into an endless decay of depression, recession, and global warming. Modern is the time we listen to Nick Cave. Postmodern is the time we wander around clinging to the only wasteland we have left. Get out your T.S. Elliot, folks.
Such is the case for Elif Shafak's The Saint of Incipient Insanities. In many ways, it's just as much a book about the immigrant university experience as it is relationships and intimacy, psychosis, and various personalities being thrown in the mix of postmodern soup. (We are past the primordial stages, are we not and no one uses the term premodern because we are always trying to present ourselves as more progressive) Alas, I'm diverging from this topic. This book gets a 4 instead of a 5 because I wasn't too thrilled with the ending as much as I wanted to be. It seemed too lucid and made up whereas Omer (the main character) putting on his headphones to blast The Dead Kennedys or Nick Cave made a whole lot more sense to me.
Oh and totally off topic but from now on, I'm going to refer to myself as a premodern being. I don't think the apocalypse is happening tomorrow. I think the world is going to drift into an endless decay of depression, recession, and global warming. Modern is the time we listen to Nick Cave. Postmodern is the time we wander around clinging to the only wasteland we have left. Get out your T.S. Elliot, folks.
July 13, 2015
I loved the 2 chapters about Istanbul and I think it saved the book. Anyway the last 100 pages are better than the rest. Not the best book by E.S.
April 3, 2022
Part one: You discover reading and become addicted.
What does it mean to belong? And what place do we call “Home”?
In this novel, Shafak explores the themes of being a foreigner both in your homeland and in other countries.
Moving to a different country poses several challenges: The language barrier, when words start to fail you and most of what you want to express is left unsaid. And the cultural barrier, when you have to adjust your behavior to the host’s culture and fight against people seeing you only as a stereotype of whatever culture you came from.
But moving away from home also gives advantages. You become anonymous, and in anonymity you become free from living up to the expectations your family and friends have put for you.
Part Two: You switch from addiction to obsession. Reading starts to consume you.
Being torn between two countries, two cultures will pose the question of where do you belong. In the host country where your whole life is currently happening, where your current self and personality are built but you still feel likea guest. Where you feel uneasy towards a society that accepts you only partially into a ghetto-esc sub-society within it. Or do you belong to a country that you have an ancient memory of, and that memory is an aching urge to flee?
And what if you are destined to live the life of a foreigner wherever your feet will land you because you haven’t found a homeland inside your own skin?
Part three: 6,667 books, your reality is now more fictional than the books you are reading.
The novel explores this topic and more, like mental illness, beliefs, love, etc. And what makes it pop out is that each one of these topics is tackled in a profound way.
The narrative style is engaging as usual for Elif is the queen storyteller.
The last chapter was named “the bridge in between”, and I found this novel as a bridge between Shafak’s old experimental, more style and innovative structure-oriented writing and her new more narrative, cohesive, topic-oriented writing style.
As usual, the power of Elif’s writing lies in the details, time was measured by songs, colors were named according to a wall paint catalog, and feelings were portrayed through food. It is these tiny details and elements of style that make Elif a unique voice that I will always cherish.
What does it mean to belong? And what place do we call “Home”?
In this novel, Shafak explores the themes of being a foreigner both in your homeland and in other countries.
Moving to a different country poses several challenges: The language barrier, when words start to fail you and most of what you want to express is left unsaid. And the cultural barrier, when you have to adjust your behavior to the host’s culture and fight against people seeing you only as a stereotype of whatever culture you came from.
But moving away from home also gives advantages. You become anonymous, and in anonymity you become free from living up to the expectations your family and friends have put for you.
Part Two: You switch from addiction to obsession. Reading starts to consume you.
Being torn between two countries, two cultures will pose the question of where do you belong. In the host country where your whole life is currently happening, where your current self and personality are built but you still feel likea guest. Where you feel uneasy towards a society that accepts you only partially into a ghetto-esc sub-society within it. Or do you belong to a country that you have an ancient memory of, and that memory is an aching urge to flee?
And what if you are destined to live the life of a foreigner wherever your feet will land you because you haven’t found a homeland inside your own skin?
Part three: 6,667 books, your reality is now more fictional than the books you are reading.
The novel explores this topic and more, like mental illness, beliefs, love, etc. And what makes it pop out is that each one of these topics is tackled in a profound way.
The narrative style is engaging as usual for Elif is the queen storyteller.
The last chapter was named “the bridge in between”, and I found this novel as a bridge between Shafak’s old experimental, more style and innovative structure-oriented writing and her new more narrative, cohesive, topic-oriented writing style.
As usual, the power of Elif’s writing lies in the details, time was measured by songs, colors were named according to a wall paint catalog, and feelings were portrayed through food. It is these tiny details and elements of style that make Elif a unique voice that I will always cherish.
January 29, 2023
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3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 just for kicks)
Established fans of Elif Shafak should be wary of The Saint of Incipient Insanities. This novel is quite un-Shafak-like. Maybe because this was the first novel that she wrote in English, or maybe because she was trying something different, but the tone and structure of this novel are very 'unique' and differ from other works by Shafak.
I think Shafak must have had a lot of fun writing this book. She experiments with her style, the way language itself sounds and works, testing the limits of what a 'novel' should be like. Her wide ranging vocabulary makes each page rather a lot to take in. At times she could be beautifully articulate and in others she could digress in wordy tangents. Most of the time however I was entertained by her playful and discursive prose, amused by the long-winded passages on the importance of a character's surname and or the name of an english textbook.
The novel doesn't present us with a 'cohesive' storyline, each chapter has a quirky name and what follows is usually connected to it. For example, in the first chapter 'Started Drinking Again', ex-housemates Ömar and Abed are hanging out in a bar called The Laughing Magpie and talk about the way in which their names and surnames have been mispronounced and changed by Americans; their different relationship towards their shared faith (Abed does not drink, Ömar has just started again); and about Gail, Ömar's wife.
The rest of the novel focuses on the time when Ömar, who travelled from Turkey to complete his PhD in Boston, was living with Abed—from Morocco—and Piyu—from Spain—two other students. Living under the same roof they might share a sense of 'foreignness' but they have rather clashing personalities. Shafak focuses particular on the struggles of Ömar, Abed, Piyu's girlfriend Alegre, and Gail, Ömar's future wife. There are plenty of weird conversations, bizarre behaviours, and outlandish monologues. Each character seems to be experiencing some sort of personal crisis, each of them is too wrapped up by their own individual situation to notice that their friends are undergoing similar situations. In spite of the seriousness of some of their difficulties, such as Alegre's eating disorder, Shafak portrays their plights in a rather humorous manner.
Which brings me to the tone of this novel. As mentioned previously, the narrative is playful. Shafak easily moves from city to city, interweaving different conversations and places in the same sentence, and cities and objects have personalities and a point of view of their own.
While the narrative does tell us the characters' innermost thoughts and fears it also makes 'fun' of them. A lot of the time their actions and or their discussions seem ridiculous. They have these quirky habits, or behave in a peculiar way (Gail initially only eats chocolate and bananas...I swear she rivals Samuel Beckett's Krapp in Krapp's Last Tape & Embers and Debra Ellen Thompson insists on being called Debra Ellen Thompson), they might take themselves seriously but the narrative makes light of their troubles and or obsessions. The ironic content also reinforces the humorous tone of the novel. At times, especially when the narrative focused on Alegre and Gail, there is only dark humour. In fact, I would almost call this novel a dark comedy.
I don't think this book will appeal to a lot of readers...it's just so bizarrely unique. I loved the characters' garrulous discussions, the songs (from the Stooges to Nick Cave) and cultural references (this novel is set in the early 2000s), plus they mention Slavoj Žižek whom I adore so...the characters might seem like satires of certain types of people but Shafak manages to make me believe in them and care for them.
I am far from squirmy but I did find the graphic depiction of Alegre's eating disorder almost... overwhelming...so approach with caution.
Lastly, that ending was underwhelming. I was fully excepting another chapter and then...nothing!
Still, I might one day re-read this just so I can appreciate once more Shafak's compendium of words.
3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 just for kicks)
“Lovers are pathetically charming, and exceedingly full of themselves, itself more precisely, for one of the plentiful troubles with loving couples is that the minute two autonomous selves develop themselves into a duo, instead of "two" (as in one plus one), they somehow become "zero" (as in one minus one). Likewise, before anyone could follow up, Ömar and Gail had germinated into a totality.”
Established fans of Elif Shafak should be wary of The Saint of Incipient Insanities. This novel is quite un-Shafak-like. Maybe because this was the first novel that she wrote in English, or maybe because she was trying something different, but the tone and structure of this novel are very 'unique' and differ from other works by Shafak.
I think Shafak must have had a lot of fun writing this book. She experiments with her style, the way language itself sounds and works, testing the limits of what a 'novel' should be like. Her wide ranging vocabulary makes each page rather a lot to take in. At times she could be beautifully articulate and in others she could digress in wordy tangents. Most of the time however I was entertained by her playful and discursive prose, amused by the long-winded passages on the importance of a character's surname and or the name of an english textbook.
The novel doesn't present us with a 'cohesive' storyline, each chapter has a quirky name and what follows is usually connected to it. For example, in the first chapter 'Started Drinking Again', ex-housemates Ömar and Abed are hanging out in a bar called The Laughing Magpie and talk about the way in which their names and surnames have been mispronounced and changed by Americans; their different relationship towards their shared faith (Abed does not drink, Ömar has just started again); and about Gail, Ömar's wife.
The rest of the novel focuses on the time when Ömar, who travelled from Turkey to complete his PhD in Boston, was living with Abed—from Morocco—and Piyu—from Spain—two other students. Living under the same roof they might share a sense of 'foreignness' but they have rather clashing personalities. Shafak focuses particular on the struggles of Ömar, Abed, Piyu's girlfriend Alegre, and Gail, Ömar's future wife. There are plenty of weird conversations, bizarre behaviours, and outlandish monologues. Each character seems to be experiencing some sort of personal crisis, each of them is too wrapped up by their own individual situation to notice that their friends are undergoing similar situations. In spite of the seriousness of some of their difficulties, such as Alegre's eating disorder, Shafak portrays their plights in a rather humorous manner.
Which brings me to the tone of this novel. As mentioned previously, the narrative is playful. Shafak easily moves from city to city, interweaving different conversations and places in the same sentence, and cities and objects have personalities and a point of view of their own.
“At the same instant as that clack! in Istanbul, a sigh was heaved in Boston as Alegre pushed the door of the first place she found open at this hour.”
While the narrative does tell us the characters' innermost thoughts and fears it also makes 'fun' of them. A lot of the time their actions and or their discussions seem ridiculous. They have these quirky habits, or behave in a peculiar way (Gail initially only eats chocolate and bananas...I swear she rivals Samuel Beckett's Krapp in Krapp's Last Tape & Embers and Debra Ellen Thompson insists on being called Debra Ellen Thompson), they might take themselves seriously but the narrative makes light of their troubles and or obsessions. The ironic content also reinforces the humorous tone of the novel. At times, especially when the narrative focused on Alegre and Gail, there is only dark humour. In fact, I would almost call this novel a dark comedy.
“It wasn't the cold that made them frown like that. It was something else. Something less blustery and rheumy, more difficult and hideous…something that, if asked, they might have defined as a sudden sense of sulky solitude, thought probably not in these words, and surely not in this specific order.”
I don't think this book will appeal to a lot of readers...it's just so bizarrely unique. I loved the characters' garrulous discussions, the songs (from the Stooges to Nick Cave) and cultural references (this novel is set in the early 2000s), plus they mention Slavoj Žižek whom I adore so...the characters might seem like satires of certain types of people but Shafak manages to make me believe in them and care for them.
I am far from squirmy but I did find the graphic depiction of Alegre's eating disorder almost... overwhelming...so approach with caution.
Lastly, that ending was underwhelming. I was fully excepting another chapter and then...nothing!
Still, I might one day re-read this just so I can appreciate once more Shafak's compendium of words.
“Urban legends are the free citizens of the world. They need no passport to travel, no visas to stay. They are verbal chameleons, absorbing the color of the culture they come into contact with. Whichever shore they reach, they can instantly become a native of it. Urban legends are free souls that belong to no one, and yet are the property of all. ”
December 8, 2012
Kitabı başlığı için almıştım... Aldığım zamanlar da be nde kendimi arafta hissediyordum.
Kitap İlk önce biraz kafamızı karıştırsa da sonradan bir düzene giriyor. Karakterler saf bir gerçeklikle yansıtılmış. Üstelik her birini ayrı ayrı ele aldığımızda bambaşka insanlarken, bu alakasız kişilikler çok güzel bir ortamda birleştirilmişti ve aralarındaki arkadaşlık ilişkileri çok iyi yansıtılmıştı. Ne fazla ne eksik...
Yurtdışındaki kimlik, ırk problemi de apayrı tabi ki... Gurbetteki yalnızlık hissi, farklı ülkelerden farklı inançlardan insanlar...Yurtdışı merakı olan arkadaşlar için bekledikleri hareketli maceradan biraz yoksun olsa da karakterlerin hayatları çok güzel anlatılmıştı.
Herbir karakter içimizdeki veya çevremizdeki insanları anlatıyordu, herbirinde parça parça kendimizi buluyorduk... Zayıfın nasıl üstün olduğu, üstünün nasıl zayıfa bağımlı olduğu bir arkadaşlık ilişkisi tüm gerçekliğiyle ortadaydı. İç hesaplaşmalar, takıntılar, terapi grupları... Hangimizin takıntıları yok ki?
Biri gidip diğeri gelen kız arkadaşlar, sağlıksız onca ilişkinin ardından bir anda gerçek aşkı uzaklarda ararken yakınında bulmak... Yıldırım hızı ile kurulan bir evlilik... Peki ya karşındakinin iç dünyasını ne kadar bildiğini sorguladın mı? O karanlıkların ne kadarını yıkabiliyrsun ya da yıktığını sanıyorsun? Ya bu evliliğin sonu...
Araf, birçok kişiliğin farklı farklı noktalarda arafata kaldığı hayatlar��n hikayesi... Başarılı ve akıcı bir roman için Elik şafak'a tebrikler.
Kitap İlk önce biraz kafamızı karıştırsa da sonradan bir düzene giriyor. Karakterler saf bir gerçeklikle yansıtılmış. Üstelik her birini ayrı ayrı ele aldığımızda bambaşka insanlarken, bu alakasız kişilikler çok güzel bir ortamda birleştirilmişti ve aralarındaki arkadaşlık ilişkileri çok iyi yansıtılmıştı. Ne fazla ne eksik...
Yurtdışındaki kimlik, ırk problemi de apayrı tabi ki... Gurbetteki yalnızlık hissi, farklı ülkelerden farklı inançlardan insanlar...Yurtdışı merakı olan arkadaşlar için bekledikleri hareketli maceradan biraz yoksun olsa da karakterlerin hayatları çok güzel anlatılmıştı.
Herbir karakter içimizdeki veya çevremizdeki insanları anlatıyordu, herbirinde parça parça kendimizi buluyorduk... Zayıfın nasıl üstün olduğu, üstünün nasıl zayıfa bağımlı olduğu bir arkadaşlık ilişkisi tüm gerçekliğiyle ortadaydı. İç hesaplaşmalar, takıntılar, terapi grupları... Hangimizin takıntıları yok ki?
Biri gidip diğeri gelen kız arkadaşlar, sağlıksız onca ilişkinin ardından bir anda gerçek aşkı uzaklarda ararken yakınında bulmak... Yıldırım hızı ile kurulan bir evlilik... Peki ya karşındakinin iç dünyasını ne kadar bildiğini sorguladın mı? O karanlıkların ne kadarını yıkabiliyrsun ya da yıktığını sanıyorsun? Ya bu evliliğin sonu...
Araf, birçok kişiliğin farklı farklı noktalarda arafata kaldığı hayatlar��n hikayesi... Başarılı ve akıcı bir roman için Elik şafak'a tebrikler.
February 17, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
Relația mea cu Shafak e de love-hate. E a patra fisă și nu pot spune că a fost cum m-am așteptat (contrar steluțelor acordate).
Cartea debuteaza lent, cu doi prieteni într-un bar, vorbind despre neveste și filosofie, despre promisiuni încălcate și încercări eșuate. Apoi, ușor, suntem introduși în poveste, personajele fiind, pe rând, în prim-plan. Când te aștepți mai puțin, legăturile dintre ele, invizibile până atunci, devin clare, prinzând într-o singură pânză toată suflarea.
Cartea nu are intrigă (nașpa că te prinzi abia la final). Nu e nimic antrenant la poveste, nu prevezi unde se poate duce. Ce are, în schimb, este umorul, culoarea personajelor, felul în care sunt construite și scriitura fascinantă, care m-a făcut de multe ori să mă simt ca și cum aș sta la masă cu cei 3 băieți. Prezintă zbuciumul interior al unor străini în țară străină, care nu cunosc limba, dar care încearcă din răsputeri să răzbată într-o societate rasistă, cu prea multe prejudecăți, deși se vrea a fi ,,țara tuturor posibilităților". Frapant este și finalul, când realizezi că nici la tine în țară nu ai o identitate clară, că nu mai ești de-al locului, că ești străin. Pe lângă această temă, centrală, avem expuse și probleme punctuale: lipsa dragostei familiei, care duce la deviații de comportament și dorințe suicidale, bulimia, care, chiar și cu o încercare de tratament, este o boala mult prea grea, excesul de substanțe, indiferent de ce natură sunt, care fac omul să conștientizeze în ultima secundă răul pe cate îl fac în schimbul unui bine efemer.
O recomand, dar precizez că e nevoie de răbdare cu ea. E o lectură lentă, dar faină, și cu ceva din culoarea Istanbului nepăsător la toți și toate.
Relația mea cu Shafak e de love-hate. E a patra fisă și nu pot spune că a fost cum m-am așteptat (contrar steluțelor acordate).
Cartea debuteaza lent, cu doi prieteni într-un bar, vorbind despre neveste și filosofie, despre promisiuni încălcate și încercări eșuate. Apoi, ușor, suntem introduși în poveste, personajele fiind, pe rând, în prim-plan. Când te aștepți mai puțin, legăturile dintre ele, invizibile până atunci, devin clare, prinzând într-o singură pânză toată suflarea.
Cartea nu are intrigă (nașpa că te prinzi abia la final). Nu e nimic antrenant la poveste, nu prevezi unde se poate duce. Ce are, în schimb, este umorul, culoarea personajelor, felul în care sunt construite și scriitura fascinantă, care m-a făcut de multe ori să mă simt ca și cum aș sta la masă cu cei 3 băieți. Prezintă zbuciumul interior al unor străini în țară străină, care nu cunosc limba, dar care încearcă din răsputeri să răzbată într-o societate rasistă, cu prea multe prejudecăți, deși se vrea a fi ,,țara tuturor posibilităților". Frapant este și finalul, când realizezi că nici la tine în țară nu ai o identitate clară, că nu mai ești de-al locului, că ești străin. Pe lângă această temă, centrală, avem expuse și probleme punctuale: lipsa dragostei familiei, care duce la deviații de comportament și dorințe suicidale, bulimia, care, chiar și cu o încercare de tratament, este o boala mult prea grea, excesul de substanțe, indiferent de ce natură sunt, care fac omul să conștientizeze în ultima secundă răul pe cate îl fac în schimbul unui bine efemer.
O recomand, dar precizez că e nevoie de răbdare cu ea. E o lectură lentă, dar faină, și cu ceva din culoarea Istanbului nepăsător la toți și toate.
February 7, 2017
În romanul lui Elif Shafak, Sfântul nebuniilor incipiente, e o stare de joacă permanentă. Se joacă personajele între ele, un număr rezonabil de excentricități zburdă cât mai departe de punctele personale de echilibru, cuvintele se zbenguie printre limbi, muzica joacă rolul timpului, iar diavolul își bate joc de supa din literele alfabetului gătită de Dumnezeu și îi răstoarnă castronul, ceea ce duce la intrarea literelor în delir. Bănuiala mea este că în acel moment a venit scriitoarea turcă Elif Shafak și a adunat literele neastâmpărate cu o lingură din argint, compunând ceea ce avea să devină primul roman al ei scris în limba engleză, o lectură pe alocuri adorabilă și în general atât de plăcută încât nu poți lăsa cartea din mână. Iar când ajungi la ultima pagină și devine imperios necesar să te folosești de ambele mâini, constați că nu o poți dezlipi de suflet. Așa că o lași acolo, îți zice lumea că ai ceva pe suflet, tu aprobi scoțând pieptul în față și zici da, te macină o carte minunată.
Citește continuarea pe Hyperliteratura:
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Citește continuarea pe Hyperliteratura:
http://hyperliteratura.ro/sfantul-neb...
November 16, 2011
In the future I will write an in-depth blog about why this is one of the most amazing novels I've ever read. As for anyone who is torn between whether they should read this or not, I'll be the first to tell you that it is not a novel for everyone.
There are some bold choices of english language usage in this novel: most notably the wide range of "said" substitutes (which I think is brilliant); "cheeped Alegre, "Abed croaked," and the like. There are also several parts where the narrator (via Omer's muse) will break down the problem with english language learning programs, which is that they thrust rules of grammar and structure on us so much that we began to believe that there is only one way to write and speak english (and Omer finds this unjust).
Anyone who loves true-to-the-bone-creative-writing, empty of stereotypes and full of philosophical vastness literature should read this.
There are some bold choices of english language usage in this novel: most notably the wide range of "said" substitutes (which I think is brilliant); "cheeped Alegre, "Abed croaked," and the like. There are also several parts where the narrator (via Omer's muse) will break down the problem with english language learning programs, which is that they thrust rules of grammar and structure on us so much that we began to believe that there is only one way to write and speak english (and Omer finds this unjust).
Anyone who loves true-to-the-bone-creative-writing, empty of stereotypes and full of philosophical vastness literature should read this.
February 19, 2017
"Kto jest prawdziwie obcy – ten, kto mieszka za granicą i wie, że jego prawdziwy dom znajduje się gdzie indziej, czy ten, kto wiedzie życie obcego we własnym kraju i nie ma swojego miejsca na ziemi?"
W dobie migracji ludzkości na masową skalę, powieść Elif Shafak jest niezwykle bolesna, ale też namacalnie wręcz aktualna. „Araf” to dosłownie piekło i niebo połączone w jedną krainę, czyściec, z którego nie ma do końca ucieczki, bo zawsze pozostaje najistotniejsze pytanie o przynależność. Ojczyzna? Czy Ziemia Obiecana? To historia zagubienia, rozdarcia, rozbicia, tożsamości wykluczonych, które za wszelką cenę poszukują normalności. To także opowieść o obsesjach, o dojrzewaniu i dorastaniu do podejmowania ostatecznych wyborów. Elif Shafak trafiła w czuły punkt współczesnej cywilizacji.
W dobie migracji ludzkości na masową skalę, powieść Elif Shafak jest niezwykle bolesna, ale też namacalnie wręcz aktualna. „Araf” to dosłownie piekło i niebo połączone w jedną krainę, czyściec, z którego nie ma do końca ucieczki, bo zawsze pozostaje najistotniejsze pytanie o przynależność. Ojczyzna? Czy Ziemia Obiecana? To historia zagubienia, rozdarcia, rozbicia, tożsamości wykluczonych, które za wszelką cenę poszukują normalności. To także opowieść o obsesjach, o dojrzewaniu i dorastaniu do podejmowania ostatecznych wyborów. Elif Shafak trafiła w czuły punkt współczesnej cywilizacji.
January 29, 2013
Elif Şafak sevmeme rağmen bu kitabını pek beğenmedim. Karakterlerin hiçbirine ısınamadım, bence kitabın bir konusu yoktu; ortaya serpiştirilmiş klişe karakterler vardı sadece. Bir de ders anlatır havasında yapılan betimlemeler, kısa bir kitaptı okundu bitti ama bende bir etki bırakmadı.
February 24, 2022
Relatable.
December 11, 2022
"Araf" Elif Şafakdan oxuduğum dördüncü romanıdır. Ümumiyyətlə isə deyərdim ki, Elif Şafaqın kitablarının satılması “Aşk” romanının sayəsindədir. O romanı oxuduqdan sonra “görəsən o birisilərində nə var?” deyə bir maraq hissi oyanır adamda və fikirləşmədən satın alırsan. Aldığıma peşman deyiləm əsla, çünki bu roman da mənə müəyyən şeyləri öyrətdi və göstərdi.
Roman nə haqqındadır?: Roman gənclik, özgələşmə, özünü axtarma, şəxsiyyət, populyar mədəniyyət, incəsənət və suallar haqqındadır. Struktur və ümumi təhkiyə etibarıyla rahat və axıcıdır. Yazarın ingilis dilində yazdığı ilk romandır, amma yazıçı ingilis dilində yazdığına baxmayaraq, eyni zamanda paralel olaraq türk dilində də yazır. Bir romanı iki dəfə yazmaq kimi. Kitabın sonunda yazııçyla olan müsahibədə yazıldığı kimi, yazar feminizmin güclü olduğu universitet şəhərciyində bir müddət yaşamıdır. Romanda 2001 ci ildə Bostonda keçən həyatının izlərini və feminizm izlərini görmək mümkündür. Prinsip etibarıyla isə roman özgələşmək və yalnızlaşmaq haqqındadır. Elif Şafak hansısa konkret süjet xətti olan hekayə danışmaq kimi bir məqsədi olmayıb. Onsuz da, hekayə ortaya çıxır. Əsas məsələ fərdin özünə özgə bir cəmiyyət və mədəniyyətin içində, düşdüyü qarışıq hissi və əqli vəziyyətləri müxtəlif obrazlara yayaraq izah etməkdir. Burada sadəcə xarici ölkələrdən gəlib Amerikada yaşayanların yadlaşması deyil (Ömər, Piyu, Abed), eyni zamanda bu cəmiyyətdə yaşayan amma bu cəmiyyətə özgə olan insanlar da var (Gail, Debra Ellen Thompson). Bir obrazdan digərinə keçid rahatdır və qeyri-müəyyənlik yaratmır.
Digər romanlarla müqayisə: Elif Şafaq üslubu bu romanda da özünü göstərir. Belə ki, İstanbulun yüksək səviyyəli təsviri (demək olar ki, əksər romsanlarında bu belədir), yemək mədəniyyəti (bişirmək bacarığı olan obrazlar), musiqi mədəniyyəti və müəyyən qədər feminizm. Quruluş etibarıyla rahat və axıcıdır. Aşk romanını oxuyandan sonra bir çox insanlar digər romanlarını darıxdırıcı hesab edirlər. Bit Palas və Araf romanlarını oxuduqdan sonra məndə də müəyyən qədər tərəddüdlər oldu.
Ümumi qənaətim: Elif Şafaqın Araf romanını bəyəndim. 10 ballıq sistemlə 7 ilə qiymətləndirə bilərəm. Obrazlar (Ömər, Alegre, Gail) sanki bir-birinə bənzəyir. Uzun-uzadı yazıb izah etmək istəmirəm, amma onu deyə bilərəm ki, istər bizim cəmiyyət olsun, istərsə də Türkiyə və ya Amerika cəmiyyəti olsun, romanda təsvir olunan gənclik məni müəyyən qədər təəsüfləndirir. Psixoloji cəhətdən bir qeyri-sağlamlıq gördüm. Kitab bitdikdən sonra adamın “ağzında” sanki acı-şirin bir dad qalır.
Roman nə haqqındadır?: Roman gənclik, özgələşmə, özünü axtarma, şəxsiyyət, populyar mədəniyyət, incəsənət və suallar haqqındadır. Struktur və ümumi təhkiyə etibarıyla rahat və axıcıdır. Yazarın ingilis dilində yazdığı ilk romandır, amma yazıçı ingilis dilində yazdığına baxmayaraq, eyni zamanda paralel olaraq türk dilində də yazır. Bir romanı iki dəfə yazmaq kimi. Kitabın sonunda yazııçyla olan müsahibədə yazıldığı kimi, yazar feminizmin güclü olduğu universitet şəhərciyində bir müddət yaşamıdır. Romanda 2001 ci ildə Bostonda keçən həyatının izlərini və feminizm izlərini görmək mümkündür. Prinsip etibarıyla isə roman özgələşmək və yalnızlaşmaq haqqındadır. Elif Şafak hansısa konkret süjet xətti olan hekayə danışmaq kimi bir məqsədi olmayıb. Onsuz da, hekayə ortaya çıxır. Əsas məsələ fərdin özünə özgə bir cəmiyyət və mədəniyyətin içində, düşdüyü qarışıq hissi və əqli vəziyyətləri müxtəlif obrazlara yayaraq izah etməkdir. Burada sadəcə xarici ölkələrdən gəlib Amerikada yaşayanların yadlaşması deyil (Ömər, Piyu, Abed), eyni zamanda bu cəmiyyətdə yaşayan amma bu cəmiyyətə özgə olan insanlar da var (Gail, Debra Ellen Thompson). Bir obrazdan digərinə keçid rahatdır və qeyri-müəyyənlik yaratmır.
Digər romanlarla müqayisə: Elif Şafaq üslubu bu romanda da özünü göstərir. Belə ki, İstanbulun yüksək səviyyəli təsviri (demək olar ki, əksər romsanlarında bu belədir), yemək mədəniyyəti (bişirmək bacarığı olan obrazlar), musiqi mədəniyyəti və müəyyən qədər feminizm. Quruluş etibarıyla rahat və axıcıdır. Aşk romanını oxuyandan sonra bir çox insanlar digər romanlarını darıxdırıcı hesab edirlər. Bit Palas və Araf romanlarını oxuduqdan sonra məndə də müəyyən qədər tərəddüdlər oldu.
Ümumi qənaətim: Elif Şafaqın Araf romanını bəyəndim. 10 ballıq sistemlə 7 ilə qiymətləndirə bilərəm. Obrazlar (Ömər, Alegre, Gail) sanki bir-birinə bənzəyir. Uzun-uzadı yazıb izah etmək istəmirəm, amma onu deyə bilərəm ki, istər bizim cəmiyyət olsun, istərsə də Türkiyə və ya Amerika cəmiyyəti olsun, romanda təsvir olunan gənclik məni müəyyən qədər təəsüfləndirir. Psixoloji cəhətdən bir qeyri-sağlamlıq gördüm. Kitab bitdikdən sonra adamın “ağzında” sanki acı-şirin bir dad qalır.
February 25, 2021
Elif Shafak este o autoare care îmi place enorm, enorm. Sfântul nebuniilor incipiente este un roman care mi-a întărit și mai mult dragostea față de autoare. Deși începe oarecum dezlânat, bizar, ciudat, încet - încet ficțiunea autoarei începe să se contureze atrăgător în jurul unor personaje care poartă conversații ciudate, care au comportamente bizare, care nu par a avea legătură unele cu celelalte, însă totuși au sau poate nu... 😊 Romanul este marcat de o atmosferă de nebunie, dar și de confuzie, de neînțelegere, fără însă a fi o atmosferă apăsătoare. Îmi place cum descrie Elif zgomotele lumii înconjurătoare, viața.
April 26, 2017
To było taaaakie dobre!
Na szczęście zostanie mi wielki sentyment do srebrnych łyżeczek i kawoholików.
I ten Stambuł, tak niesamowicie opisany, taki żywy.
Książka trochę mi się skojarzyła z "Białymi zębami" Zadie Smith - chyba przez kolekcję oryginalnych, multikulturowych postaci i inteligentny, wysmakowany humor.
Bardzo polecam.
Na szczęście zostanie mi wielki sentyment do srebrnych łyżeczek i kawoholików.
I ten Stambuł, tak niesamowicie opisany, taki żywy.
Książka trochę mi się skojarzyła z "Białymi zębami" Zadie Smith - chyba przez kolekcję oryginalnych, multikulturowych postaci i inteligentny, wysmakowany humor.
Bardzo polecam.
August 25, 2023
Fabuloasă! Mi-a sfâșiat sufletul cartea aceasta. Plină de umor, dar și de profunzime, urmărește viața "expaților" dintr-o casă din Boston. Mi-a plăcut foarte mult, deși m-a prins greu inițial, poate pentru că și eu am trăit pe atâtea meleaguri... și incă trăiesc! Câte bordeie, atâtea obiceiuri! Când ești străin, ai un pic din toate și, când mergi "acasă", nu te mai regăsești. Acest roman este o căutare și o lecție de prietenie, iubire și de cercetare a sufletului.
Las aceste citate:
"Care e adevăratul străin: cel care trăiește într-o țară străină și știe că aparține altui loc sau cel care trăiește viața unui străin în țara sa natală și nu are nici un alt loc căruia să îi aparțină?"
"Ömer era pătruns de un etos cultural în care fusese crescut, un etos care socotea că nu era bine să râzi prea mult sau prea tare, de teamă ca un potop de veselie ar fi urmat de un potop de durere. Dacă râzi atât de tare încât îți dau lacrimile, etosul oriental te sfătuiește să nu uiți simplul fapt că ,,lacrimile de râs" sunt mai aproape de lacrimi decât de râs."
"When you are a foreigner, you can’t be your humble self anymore. I am my nation, my place of birth. I am everything except me."
Las aceste citate:
"Care e adevăratul străin: cel care trăiește într-o țară străină și știe că aparține altui loc sau cel care trăiește viața unui străin în țara sa natală și nu are nici un alt loc căruia să îi aparțină?"
"Ömer era pătruns de un etos cultural în care fusese crescut, un etos care socotea că nu era bine să râzi prea mult sau prea tare, de teamă ca un potop de veselie ar fi urmat de un potop de durere. Dacă râzi atât de tare încât îți dau lacrimile, etosul oriental te sfătuiește să nu uiți simplul fapt că ,,lacrimile de râs" sunt mai aproape de lacrimi decât de râs."
"When you are a foreigner, you can’t be your humble self anymore. I am my nation, my place of birth. I am everything except me."
October 21, 2012
I enjoyed the ruminations of the international cast of characters on the immigrant experience / experience of foreign students in America. There were some cute bits about the comforts of speaking with another non-native English speaker, the significance of a name to one's identity, cultural sensitivity and the insecurities people have about their countrymen and country as well as themselves. The characters have problems and are essentially misfits and thrown together through strange circumstances. It's and interesting read but I have my reservations.
Elif Shafak's style is something I struggle with at times. I've read three of her books and I find her to be overly descriptive at times - dragging out metaphors in long, sometimes run-on sentences, and using words that are obscure or difficult for native and non-native speakers of English alike. Sometimes there are odd phrases or word choices that, though not incorrect, aren't totally natural either. Nonetheless, I respect her talent and background (born in France, grew up in Spain, writing in Turkish and English - novels and featured in newspapers). She challenges people and ideas in her books (not afraid to make you uncomfortable) and makes several good observations about what people think and feel in a variety of situations. Still, there were little things that bothered me, among them her reference to Saint Sophia in Istanbul - which is actually Hagia Sophia, and Greek/Latin for "Holy Wisdom" not a saint.
This book was one of her first originally written in English ("Aşk" (TR) or "The Forty Rules of Love" (EN) being another) so there's an allowance for the difficulty of such a feat. She's able to sprinkle Spanish, Turkish and bits of Arabic into the story through her characters but sometimes (at least with the Turkish) I felt like there was a bit of liberty taken with the translation of expressions, albeit with the goal of making a specific point for the sake of the story. This, like her other books, moves between the present and the past and doesn't really come together till the end. So at times I liked it, at times I just wanted her to get to the point, but all in all it was an interesting read.
Elif Shafak's style is something I struggle with at times. I've read three of her books and I find her to be overly descriptive at times - dragging out metaphors in long, sometimes run-on sentences, and using words that are obscure or difficult for native and non-native speakers of English alike. Sometimes there are odd phrases or word choices that, though not incorrect, aren't totally natural either. Nonetheless, I respect her talent and background (born in France, grew up in Spain, writing in Turkish and English - novels and featured in newspapers). She challenges people and ideas in her books (not afraid to make you uncomfortable) and makes several good observations about what people think and feel in a variety of situations. Still, there were little things that bothered me, among them her reference to Saint Sophia in Istanbul - which is actually Hagia Sophia, and Greek/Latin for "Holy Wisdom" not a saint.
This book was one of her first originally written in English ("Aşk" (TR) or "The Forty Rules of Love" (EN) being another) so there's an allowance for the difficulty of such a feat. She's able to sprinkle Spanish, Turkish and bits of Arabic into the story through her characters but sometimes (at least with the Turkish) I felt like there was a bit of liberty taken with the translation of expressions, albeit with the goal of making a specific point for the sake of the story. This, like her other books, moves between the present and the past and doesn't really come together till the end. So at times I liked it, at times I just wanted her to get to the point, but all in all it was an interesting read.
June 27, 2011
"There was nothing more depressing in life, she deduced, than being obliged to have fun."
"Still he could sense a dose of an obscure, quashed resentment in the tones of most; a resentment that those left behind tend for feel for the one who has gone."
"After all, native speakers enjoy hearing those teeny tiny imprecisions that the former produce as if there were money in it. Seldom do they intevene, and when they do, it is too often with an affectionate vigilance like parents taking joy in the mistakes their kids make."
"Even if it didn't work out between them for too long, still, she needed to hear about their future in order to be comfortable with him today."
"Omer inhaled through his teeth, listening to what the snow says outside as it melts under the winter sun, the snow melting as always, the sun shining as always, everything being itself, everything but him, only he unable to be his usual self."
"Do we always have to inform the beloveds of our feelings for them? Doesn't this declaration imply a request to get something in return? Is not every proclamation a statement of selfishness?"
"When you lose yourself, and you raze your tower of ego, what difference would it make if you were loved in return or not? The moment you start giving without expecting to be given in return, the whole universe would be Ginseng!"
"Still he could sense a dose of an obscure, quashed resentment in the tones of most; a resentment that those left behind tend for feel for the one who has gone."
"After all, native speakers enjoy hearing those teeny tiny imprecisions that the former produce as if there were money in it. Seldom do they intevene, and when they do, it is too often with an affectionate vigilance like parents taking joy in the mistakes their kids make."
"Even if it didn't work out between them for too long, still, she needed to hear about their future in order to be comfortable with him today."
"Omer inhaled through his teeth, listening to what the snow says outside as it melts under the winter sun, the snow melting as always, the sun shining as always, everything being itself, everything but him, only he unable to be his usual self."
"Do we always have to inform the beloveds of our feelings for them? Doesn't this declaration imply a request to get something in return? Is not every proclamation a statement of selfishness?"
"When you lose yourself, and you raze your tower of ego, what difference would it make if you were loved in return or not? The moment you start giving without expecting to be given in return, the whole universe would be Ginseng!"
October 4, 2016
Чудя се как можах да започна Шафак с най-лошата й книга, а именно "Любов"? След нея може би 3 години изобщо странях от авторката и не вярвах, че ще си я причиня втори път. За приятна изненада и "Черно мляко" и "Светецът на неизбежната лудост" са забавни, увлекателни, закачливи книги, които се четат лесно, на един дъх, и ти оставят приятно чувство в главата и в сърцето.
"Светецът на неизбежната лудост" не разполага с някаква изумителна сюжетна линия, но е приятно четиво. Наистина до края чаках ли чаках да разбера поведението на Гейл и все си мислих, че ще прочета нещо, което ще ми даде обяснение за нейния образ, но уви! Критиката ми е, че такъв образ като Гейл просто не съществува в живота. Ако другите герои с малко уговорки можеш да си ги представиш като личности, то Гейл е нелогична и то по безинтересен начин. Това не ми попречи да харесам книгата.
"Светецът на неизбежната лудост" не разполага с някаква изумителна сюжетна линия, но е приятно четиво. Наистина до края чаках ли чаках да разбера поведението на Гейл и все си мислих, че ще прочета нещо, което ще ми даде обяснение за нейния образ, но уви! Критиката ми е, че такъв образ като Гейл просто не съществува в живота. Ако другите герои с малко уговорки можеш да си ги представиш като личности, то Гейл е нелогична и то по безинтересен начин. Това не ми попречи да харесам книгата.
April 17, 2019
I started this one about 3 times. I have OCD, so once I start a book, I need to finish it. I am glad I did. I was not a big fan in the beginning, but I loved it after all.
I think reading is about self discovery. I hit my inner wall of avoiding people found of drinking or anything alcohol related and the book starts with the too drunk Omer.
I loved the diversity of those multi-cultural characters. I embraced Gail's obsessions and maniacal- depressive tendencies.
If I ever adopt cats, I will name them Vestul & Restul.
I think reading is about self discovery. I hit my inner wall of avoiding people found of drinking or anything alcohol related and the book starts with the too drunk Omer.
I loved the diversity of those multi-cultural characters. I embraced Gail's obsessions and maniacal- depressive tendencies.
If I ever adopt cats, I will name them Vestul & Restul.
August 7, 2013
This book is how I met with Elif Shafak. It was definitely what I needed to read when I read it 5 years ago. It is about identities, being a foreigner, being a foreign student, about the sense of belonging, life struggless. I have read like 6-7 Elif Shafak books after this one, and it is still my favorite (OK I did enjoy the forty rules of love, but I don't know how much original it is, and it is way too commercialized)...
November 5, 2014
Книгата изобщо не ми допадна. Започна добре и свърши зле. Под "зле" имам предвид не толкова съдбата на някои от героите, а цялостното усещане, че съм си загубила времето да проследя житието на няколко малоумника. Да, вярно е, че "всеки си е башкъ луд", както казваше баба ми, но тук неизбежните лудости на част от героите ми бяха досадни и не ми помагаха да им вляза в положението и да се асоциирам с тях.
August 4, 2017
Tektipleştirilmiş, derinlikten ve ikna edicilikten uzak karakterler; yabancı ve Türkiyeli olma halleri üzerine doğru, ama güzel bir dille örülmekten yoksun tespitler; romanını İngilizce yazmış olmasından da anlayacağımız üzere ait olamadığı coğrafyaya hep eleştirmeye çalıştığı o şarkiyatçılıkla bakan Elif Şafak.
February 9, 2010
I was delighted by this book in the beginning. The author has a creative and playful way with words, and I loved all of Shafak's little details about life as an expatriate.
But then I got bored and started asking the question, "so what?"
But then I got bored and started asking the question, "so what?"
January 26, 2016
O carte pe care o devorezi repede,oameni care incearca sa se integreze intr-o tara straina .
Unii reusesc , altii clacheaza .
Unii reusesc , altii clacheaza .
December 31, 2024
Few days back, I picked this book off the shelf again cleared the cobwebs off after 6 months. I was two chapters into this book, earlier this year and I knew this one is going to be too good to handle, so I decided to savour this one in the holidays and give the book its due attention. And damn! I am blown away, this indeed is Elif’s finest work, insanely cerebral and completely off the charts.
Although, I think Elif’s language at some places, in the book is unnecessarily, overly convoluted (I did not mind that though).
Elif’s sees the life through the lens of the immigrant friends living in Boston for study, who try to find fulfilment amid their insecurities and sense of in-betweenness. Gail to me was a weird albeit interesting character although how West and the Rest (Gail’s cats) were alive on grains and veggies is a mystery to me (I wish there was a concept of a vegetarian cats though).
A perfect blend of philosophy and humour but the end was off-putting!
Although, I think Elif’s language at some places, in the book is unnecessarily, overly convoluted (I did not mind that though).
Elif’s sees the life through the lens of the immigrant friends living in Boston for study, who try to find fulfilment amid their insecurities and sense of in-betweenness. Gail to me was a weird albeit interesting character although how West and the Rest (Gail’s cats) were alive on grains and veggies is a mystery to me (I wish there was a concept of a vegetarian cats though).
A perfect blend of philosophy and humour but the end was off-putting!
January 3, 2025
im just happy this book exists
it touches so many deep and philosophical and everyday struggles handling them with nuance and a comedic touch
its fun and whimsical but also emotional and layered and connected
only elif shafak and murakami have made me feel this way while reading for now
this book is whimsical without any magic like with murakami tho
instead of wondering and looking for something always like in murakami it flows is a completely different way
you go through all of the small details of normal situations but it reveals everything subconscious in a rich and lyrical and poetic way making normal, boring, sad, happy situations seem special and important to think about and dive deeper into
everything feels random but you know reading it its not
but also touches on very raw and normal feelings
it touches so many deep and philosophical and everyday struggles handling them with nuance and a comedic touch
its fun and whimsical but also emotional and layered and connected
only elif shafak and murakami have made me feel this way while reading for now
this book is whimsical without any magic like with murakami tho
instead of wondering and looking for something always like in murakami it flows is a completely different way
you go through all of the small details of normal situations but it reveals everything subconscious in a rich and lyrical and poetic way making normal, boring, sad, happy situations seem special and important to think about and dive deeper into
everything feels random but you know reading it its not
but also touches on very raw and normal feelings
December 16, 2025
Ich bin mir nicht sicher ob ich das Buch verstanden hab tbh
February 7, 2023
Може би очаквах малко повече от Елиф, но съм доволна и на това, което получих. Много интересни герои, много бързо разказана история и изключително много факти и персонажи от различни култури, но това си е Елиф, така че не се учудвам.
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