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The Gaze
'I didn't say anything. I didn't return his smiles. I looked at him in the wide mirror in front of where I was sitting. He grew uncomfortable and avoided my eyes. I hate those who think fat people are stupid.' An obese woman and her lover, a dwarf, are sick of being stared at wherever they go, and so decide to reverse roles. The man goes out wearing make up and the woman draws a moustache on her face. But while the woman wants to hide away from the world, the man meets the stares from passers-by head on, compiling his 'Dictionary of Gazes' to explore the boundaries between appearance and reality. Intertwined with the story of a bizarre freak-show organized in Istanbul in the 1880s, The Gaze considers the damage which can be inflicted by our simple desire to look at others.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
401 people are currently reading
5465 people want to read
About the author
Elif Shafak
61 books33.9k 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 360 reviews
April 6, 2017
"This is a world of spectacles, About seeing and being seen."
"It's as if our entire existence, as well as our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen."
Elif Shafak's words touched me like no other book ever has, maybe because the hard detailed work on each paragraph and sentence was evident and enchanting.After reading about 20 pages of the novel, while you're confused and searching for everything you begin to understand that you're in capable hands.The only thing you should do is sit and "See" and let the book unravel the story for you.
The main part of the story is about such a tangible, common yet utterly intricate matter (seeing and being seen). However, the author doesn't take the easy way to tell it.The book is compromised of two entirely different stories which become as a whole by the end of it. The ideas of time, seeing and being watched are treated as if they are breakable toys ; delicately and playfully.
The most challenging parts of this great novel for me were the parts that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath and remind myself that this is a story, real life is even worse.We all judge people, we all see and interpret based on the troubles that we have suffered.But, that doesn't make it anymore justified.Do I look at people? of course. Do I enjoy it? most of the times.When I try to see the unseen. Do I like being watched? no,never. Ask these questions from yourselves and I hope that you as well as me would try to lessen the damage inflicted on others by simply looking at them.
"It's as if our entire existence, as well as our non-existence, is founded on seeing and being seen."
Elif Shafak's words touched me like no other book ever has, maybe because the hard detailed work on each paragraph and sentence was evident and enchanting.After reading about 20 pages of the novel, while you're confused and searching for everything you begin to understand that you're in capable hands.The only thing you should do is sit and "See" and let the book unravel the story for you.
The main part of the story is about such a tangible, common yet utterly intricate matter (seeing and being seen). However, the author doesn't take the easy way to tell it.The book is compromised of two entirely different stories which become as a whole by the end of it. The ideas of time, seeing and being watched are treated as if they are breakable toys ; delicately and playfully.
The most challenging parts of this great novel for me were the parts that I had to put the book down and take a deep breath and remind myself that this is a story, real life is even worse.We all judge people, we all see and interpret based on the troubles that we have suffered.But, that doesn't make it anymore justified.Do I look at people? of course. Do I enjoy it? most of the times.When I try to see the unseen. Do I like being watched? no,never. Ask these questions from yourselves and I hope that you as well as me would try to lessen the damage inflicted on others by simply looking at them.
January 11, 2013
This review was originally posted at http://eatreadexplore.wordpress.com/2...
The Gaze is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Several stories, set in different times and places, each deal with different facets of the burden of being judged by one’s outward appearance. Facts and fiction intermingle in this book which is relatively short, only 264 pages, but is so packed with wonderful things that it feels like a much longer read. The build-up of the book is quite odd, because you feel like it starts in medias res, i.e. right in the middle. But as the book progresses, especially towards the end, you come to the conclusion that this isn’t the case. This isn’t your typical book with 1 main protagonist, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. It hasn’t one specific goal to be reached by the end of the book, which is why it might not appeal to some people. The story goes round in a circle, and ends up at pretty much the same point where it started. At some point it looks like the separate stories are beginning to overlap, but this is only briefly hinted at and not pursued any further. It’s up to the reader to fill in the gaps that link the stories, if there are any. The main message that the book carries out, in my opinion, is that everyone is judged by their outward appearance to some extent. Everyone, even the most open-minded kind of people will have a spark of prejudice inside them, even if they don’t realise it. It is something that is so inherently human that we can never break free from it completely. It doesn’t have an ending, which is the reason why the book doesn’t have a clear ending either.
What I like about the book is that it forces the reader to think long and hard about prejudices, and the easy manner with which we pass judgement on other people. To do this you don’t need any words, just a simple gaze will do. I am not a judgemental person by nature, but still the book and its characters stayed with me for a long time after I’d finished reading, and I found difficult to snap out of it. The most important thing to remember is that sometimes actions speak louder than words and that one look, one gaze can be enough to hurt someone beyond belief.
The Gaze is unlike anything I’ve ever read before. Several stories, set in different times and places, each deal with different facets of the burden of being judged by one’s outward appearance. Facts and fiction intermingle in this book which is relatively short, only 264 pages, but is so packed with wonderful things that it feels like a much longer read. The build-up of the book is quite odd, because you feel like it starts in medias res, i.e. right in the middle. But as the book progresses, especially towards the end, you come to the conclusion that this isn’t the case. This isn’t your typical book with 1 main protagonist, and a clear beginning, middle, and end. It hasn’t one specific goal to be reached by the end of the book, which is why it might not appeal to some people. The story goes round in a circle, and ends up at pretty much the same point where it started. At some point it looks like the separate stories are beginning to overlap, but this is only briefly hinted at and not pursued any further. It’s up to the reader to fill in the gaps that link the stories, if there are any. The main message that the book carries out, in my opinion, is that everyone is judged by their outward appearance to some extent. Everyone, even the most open-minded kind of people will have a spark of prejudice inside them, even if they don’t realise it. It is something that is so inherently human that we can never break free from it completely. It doesn’t have an ending, which is the reason why the book doesn’t have a clear ending either.
What I like about the book is that it forces the reader to think long and hard about prejudices, and the easy manner with which we pass judgement on other people. To do this you don’t need any words, just a simple gaze will do. I am not a judgemental person by nature, but still the book and its characters stayed with me for a long time after I’d finished reading, and I found difficult to snap out of it. The most important thing to remember is that sometimes actions speak louder than words and that one look, one gaze can be enough to hurt someone beyond belief.
January 1, 2018
"Our lives are based on seeing and being seen. All of our troubles, worries, obsessions, our happiness and our memories ... our very existence in this world too ... and also our love ... everything, I mean everything, has to do with seeing and being seen."
This novel plays with the philosophical concept of the gaze by showing how the lives of an unlikely couple are dominated and shaped by the public gaze. Fed up with how people look at them whenever they go out, the couple, an obese woman and her dwarf man, decide to start going out in disguise and reverse roles in adherence to the much vexing eyes of the world. The dwarf also decides to compose a Dictionary of Gazes in which he defines words based on looking and seeing and the visible and the invisible.
Predictably (or unpredictably?), the dwarf loves to make a show out of himself and be gazed at, the unnamed woman just can't stand it...
The narrative is fragmented into separate stories that delve into the gaze concept, focusing on characters with unique mythic circumstances that revolve around seeing and being seen—how a passive act such as seeing can alter our perception and understanding of those around us, and, more importantly, of ourselves.
Although I admit I've found the language irksome at times—probably because of the translation—and got bored with it, I recommend this book. The presentation of the gaze concept in the couple is original, thought-provoking and heartfelt.
This novel plays with the philosophical concept of the gaze by showing how the lives of an unlikely couple are dominated and shaped by the public gaze. Fed up with how people look at them whenever they go out, the couple, an obese woman and her dwarf man, decide to start going out in disguise and reverse roles in adherence to the much vexing eyes of the world. The dwarf also decides to compose a Dictionary of Gazes in which he defines words based on looking and seeing and the visible and the invisible.
Predictably (or unpredictably?), the dwarf loves to make a show out of himself and be gazed at, the unnamed woman just can't stand it...
The narrative is fragmented into separate stories that delve into the gaze concept, focusing on characters with unique mythic circumstances that revolve around seeing and being seen—how a passive act such as seeing can alter our perception and understanding of those around us, and, more importantly, of ourselves.
Although I admit I've found the language irksome at times—probably because of the translation—and got bored with it, I recommend this book. The presentation of the gaze concept in the couple is original, thought-provoking and heartfelt.
March 1, 2016
No, I didn't finish this book. I abandoned it. And this has happened for the 1st time as I never abandon a book in the mid no matter what but this was going beyond my wits. And what makes me more surprised that I "adore" Elif Shafak. I have given 5 stars to all the three books of her that I have read (The Bastard of Istanbul, 40 Rules of Love and Honour).
I don't want to review the book as I feel that too is a severe waste of time. Stay away from this if you want to maintain your sanity. Period.
I don't want to review the book as I feel that too is a severe waste of time. Stay away from this if you want to maintain your sanity. Period.
January 26, 2021
"Schau, unser ganzes Leben beruht doch auf dem Sehen und Gesehenwerden." - Elif Shafak, "Schau mich an"
Eine sehr, sehr dicke Frau lebt mit einem kleinwüchsigen Mann zusammen. Sie sind ein Paar, dürfen das aber nicht öffentlich zeigen - denn dann drohen ihnen die Blicke. Die Menschen schauen sie an, ergötzen sich an ihrer Seltsamkeit. Deshalb können sie nur inkognito gemeinsam ausgehen. Irgendwann beginnt der Mann mit einem "Lexikon der Blicke", zeichnet alles auf, was mit dem Sehen, Ansehen, Gesehenwerden, den Augen zu tun hat - und lässt sich dabei von der sehr dicken Frau inspirieren - oder benutzt er sie nur?
Elif Shafak hat mit "Schau mich an" einen sehr skurrilen und besonderen Roman geschrieben, der gar nicht wirklich ein Roman ist. Vielmehr vereinen sich in ihrem Buch, das sie bereits 1999 geschrieben hat, sozusagen die "Hauptgeschichte" um die dicke Frau und den kleinwüchsigen Mann und darum herum verschiedene Märchen und Sagen, alles gespickt mit ebenjenen Lexikoneinträgen.
Für mich war diese Art von Roman - offen gestanden - nichts. Ich habe es als zu verwirrend empfunden, wurde immer wieder aus der Geschichte herausgerissen, in eine andere, noch verrücktere heineingeworfen und musste mich am Ende dann doch wieder in die große Hülle einfinden. Das war mir persönlich zu anstrengend und ich hatte das Gefühl, das Buch so nicht wirklich genießen zu können. Dabei fand ich so viele Aspekte daran gelungen! Zunächst fand ich "Schau mich an" sprachlich absolut wunderbar. Elif Shafak schreibt so toll, da komme ich aus dem Schwärmen nicht mehr heraus. Auch die Idee, zwei gesellschaftlich ausgegrenzte Erscheinungstypen von Menschen als Protagonist*innen zu kühren, war sowohl nötig, um Repräsentation zu schaffen, als auch eine wirklich überfällige Abwechslung. Das große Ganze, das am Ende entsteht, das "Gesamtbild" , konnte mich begeistern - die Bruchstücke dagegen eher nicht.
Das Thema des Sehens und Gesehenwerdens zieht sich durch das gesamte Buch. Sei es nun in der Hauptgeschichte oder in den Nebenerzählsträngen. Vieles davon fand ich weniger gut umgesetzt, gerade die letzten 100 Seiten des Buches konnten mich aber sehr beeindrucken und vor allem eine Geschichte hat mich auf die Art, wie sie erzählt wurde, sehr erschüttert. So bin ich absolut zwiegespalten dem Buch gegenüber.
Ich möchte euch auf jeden Fall empfehlen, ein Buch der Autorin zu lesen. Um einen Eindruck von ihrem Können und ihrer Raffinesse zu bekommen, würde ich aber eher nicht dazu raten, "Schau mich an" als erstes zu lesen. Das wird ihr einfach nicht gerecht. Da ich euch aber noch eine kleine Kostprobe ihres schönen Schreibstils geben möchte, schließe ich meine Rezension mit einem weiteren Zitat aus diesem Buch:
"Das Herz ist ein Auge aus Diamant. Verkrazt man es, sieht es von da an durch einen perlmuttenen Riss auf die Welt." - Elif Shafak, "Schau mich an"
Eine sehr, sehr dicke Frau lebt mit einem kleinwüchsigen Mann zusammen. Sie sind ein Paar, dürfen das aber nicht öffentlich zeigen - denn dann drohen ihnen die Blicke. Die Menschen schauen sie an, ergötzen sich an ihrer Seltsamkeit. Deshalb können sie nur inkognito gemeinsam ausgehen. Irgendwann beginnt der Mann mit einem "Lexikon der Blicke", zeichnet alles auf, was mit dem Sehen, Ansehen, Gesehenwerden, den Augen zu tun hat - und lässt sich dabei von der sehr dicken Frau inspirieren - oder benutzt er sie nur?
Elif Shafak hat mit "Schau mich an" einen sehr skurrilen und besonderen Roman geschrieben, der gar nicht wirklich ein Roman ist. Vielmehr vereinen sich in ihrem Buch, das sie bereits 1999 geschrieben hat, sozusagen die "Hauptgeschichte" um die dicke Frau und den kleinwüchsigen Mann und darum herum verschiedene Märchen und Sagen, alles gespickt mit ebenjenen Lexikoneinträgen.
Für mich war diese Art von Roman - offen gestanden - nichts. Ich habe es als zu verwirrend empfunden, wurde immer wieder aus der Geschichte herausgerissen, in eine andere, noch verrücktere heineingeworfen und musste mich am Ende dann doch wieder in die große Hülle einfinden. Das war mir persönlich zu anstrengend und ich hatte das Gefühl, das Buch so nicht wirklich genießen zu können. Dabei fand ich so viele Aspekte daran gelungen! Zunächst fand ich "Schau mich an" sprachlich absolut wunderbar. Elif Shafak schreibt so toll, da komme ich aus dem Schwärmen nicht mehr heraus. Auch die Idee, zwei gesellschaftlich ausgegrenzte Erscheinungstypen von Menschen als Protagonist*innen zu kühren, war sowohl nötig, um Repräsentation zu schaffen, als auch eine wirklich überfällige Abwechslung. Das große Ganze, das am Ende entsteht, das "Gesamtbild" , konnte mich begeistern - die Bruchstücke dagegen eher nicht.
Das Thema des Sehens und Gesehenwerdens zieht sich durch das gesamte Buch. Sei es nun in der Hauptgeschichte oder in den Nebenerzählsträngen. Vieles davon fand ich weniger gut umgesetzt, gerade die letzten 100 Seiten des Buches konnten mich aber sehr beeindrucken und vor allem eine Geschichte hat mich auf die Art, wie sie erzählt wurde, sehr erschüttert. So bin ich absolut zwiegespalten dem Buch gegenüber.
Ich möchte euch auf jeden Fall empfehlen, ein Buch der Autorin zu lesen. Um einen Eindruck von ihrem Können und ihrer Raffinesse zu bekommen, würde ich aber eher nicht dazu raten, "Schau mich an" als erstes zu lesen. Das wird ihr einfach nicht gerecht. Da ich euch aber noch eine kleine Kostprobe ihres schönen Schreibstils geben möchte, schließe ich meine Rezension mit einem weiteren Zitat aus diesem Buch:
"Das Herz ist ein Auge aus Diamant. Verkrazt man es, sieht es von da an durch einen perlmuttenen Riss auf die Welt." - Elif Shafak, "Schau mich an"
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December 27, 2014Some novels are better left "unseen"!
July 5, 2015
The English translation of this book is incredibly bad.
April 12, 2023
Bildgewaltig, märchenhaft und burlesk. Grundthematik ist das Sehen und Gesehen werden. Keiner der Protagonisten ist wirklich sympathisch.
Ich hatte sehr viel Freude beim Lesen dieses Buches.
Und es ist wunderbar übersetzt von Gerhard Meier.
Ich hatte sehr viel Freude beim Lesen dieses Buches.
Und es ist wunderbar übersetzt von Gerhard Meier.
February 6, 2017
Before starting to review this book, I'd like to ask a question? Do you look at people? Do you enjoy it? Do you like being looked at? Well, let me answer these questions for you. Yes, I look at people. Yes, sometimes I enjoy it, it's like exploring something new, looking at them, getting inside their heads, looks or shapes and deciphering their feelings and emotions. And no, I don't like it when people look at me in a certain way, as if there's something wrong with me, but if it's to admire my looks or whatever I'm doing, then yes, I like being looked at.
The story of The Gaze explores the inner feelings of people that enjoy looking at people who are somehow different from us, or that's what we tell ourselves to give our conscious an excuse to look. Think of getting inside an elevator with a huge/obese person, how would you feel?
"Those who en up next to me in a narrow elevator begin thinking with their eyes rather than with common sense"
Yes, we judge immediately without giving ourselves the time to slow down a bit and think. That's a huge problem, it's ruining our society in so many ways. We actually do it without noticing the deed itself.
"You have no idea that when you're playing with our appearance you're playing with our pride"
Meet F A T T Y who is in love with a dwarf but afraid to go outside fearing the eyes of the people, which will never leave them alone no matter what. So they decide to disguise themselves wearing makeup (dwarf) and a moustache (F A T T Y) in order to go outside and have fun. But are they really themselves?
The Gaze also explores the character of Memis who creates a circus of people and not animals, weird looking people to get those who are intrigued and curious to come and see his creatures/people. Memis is also different from the others, and what had caused him to be lonely and live in pain is the look of his eyes. So he thought of addressing the eyes of the people that he lacked.
Within the story itself, we have some entries of words from a dictionary, a different kind of dictionary. It's called Dictionary of The Gazes, that is put and written by the dwarf himself, the F A T T Y'S lover. He creates the dictionary based on incidents and movies. I loved the dictionary's entries and this one affected me deeply:
"Hallucinations: for thousands of years, people had been drinking infusions of mushrooms in order to see what they haven't seen. Later, they become frightened of what they could see."
I really loved this book, and everything should read it. Sometimes you get lost, but then you get back on track.
The story of The Gaze explores the inner feelings of people that enjoy looking at people who are somehow different from us, or that's what we tell ourselves to give our conscious an excuse to look. Think of getting inside an elevator with a huge/obese person, how would you feel?
"Those who en up next to me in a narrow elevator begin thinking with their eyes rather than with common sense"
Yes, we judge immediately without giving ourselves the time to slow down a bit and think. That's a huge problem, it's ruining our society in so many ways. We actually do it without noticing the deed itself.
"You have no idea that when you're playing with our appearance you're playing with our pride"
Meet F A T T Y who is in love with a dwarf but afraid to go outside fearing the eyes of the people, which will never leave them alone no matter what. So they decide to disguise themselves wearing makeup (dwarf) and a moustache (F A T T Y) in order to go outside and have fun. But are they really themselves?
The Gaze also explores the character of Memis who creates a circus of people and not animals, weird looking people to get those who are intrigued and curious to come and see his creatures/people. Memis is also different from the others, and what had caused him to be lonely and live in pain is the look of his eyes. So he thought of addressing the eyes of the people that he lacked.
Within the story itself, we have some entries of words from a dictionary, a different kind of dictionary. It's called Dictionary of The Gazes, that is put and written by the dwarf himself, the F A T T Y'S lover. He creates the dictionary based on incidents and movies. I loved the dictionary's entries and this one affected me deeply:
"Hallucinations: for thousands of years, people had been drinking infusions of mushrooms in order to see what they haven't seen. Later, they become frightened of what they could see."
I really loved this book, and everything should read it. Sometimes you get lost, but then you get back on track.
June 26, 2013
Tamam artık. Şu ana kadar üç tane Elif Şafak romanı okudum ve bu sonuncusu olacak. Bundan sonra dünyanın en güzel kitabını yazdığı iddia edilse dahi, daha fazla dayanamıyorum bu kadının kitaplarına. Onu da biliyorum, şunu da biliyorum, bakın ben neler neler biliyorum! Kurguda okuruna böyle üstten bakmak, caka satmak son derece rahatsız edici bir yazar için. Çok özgün bir konu seçip bu konuyu oryantalist masallarla süsleyip Türk okuru dışındaki herkese pazarlamaya çalışmanın bir timsalidir "Mahrem". Ve ben Elif Şafak'ın nasıl olup da Ahmet Hamdi'den ya da Yusuf Atılgan'dan daha fazla el üstünde tutulduğuna hayret ediyorum. Kendinizi kandırmayın. Bu kadın size zaten bilmediğiniz bir şey anlatmıyor.
July 3, 2017
It is a weird book, the story is divided into small parts, scattered among a long timeline. It was a hard read, but it starts to make sense at about page 200. It is then that you start to figure out the whole story and make sense of it. The writer's imagination and use of words is superb
January 10, 2019
"Adam and Eve: When Adam and Eve tasted the forbidden hand, they saw their differences for the first time. They wanted to cover up their nudity with fig leaves. But one had one, the other had three figs. When they learned to count the number, they were never the same. "
Can Elif get any better? I thought after reading Black Milk but then I read The Gaze and I don't know how to explain the beauty and art this book holds. It talks about ugliness as though it's the most natural thing and presents it with subtle artistic touch. The ugliness is a curse? It questions and then challenges with another statement: Try and walk in the shoes of beauty.
Ugly and pretty face the world in different but equally frightful angles, it says.
Both taste love and betrayal; both have conflicts in individualistic and social views; both have pleasant and unpleasant experiences, both are attractive and repellent. But both are still different like day and night and both face different audience like east and west.
It talks about innocence of childhood and also the brutality of the process through which it's taken away without a warning or signal. It takes you to familiar places from where you thought you had moved on. But you haven't. It still stings. It's still there. The wound of being robed of innocence is still there like a permanent tattoo hidden under the clothing.
Hard to read but heartrendingly beautiful 💖
Can Elif get any better? I thought after reading Black Milk but then I read The Gaze and I don't know how to explain the beauty and art this book holds. It talks about ugliness as though it's the most natural thing and presents it with subtle artistic touch. The ugliness is a curse? It questions and then challenges with another statement: Try and walk in the shoes of beauty.
Ugly and pretty face the world in different but equally frightful angles, it says.
Both taste love and betrayal; both have conflicts in individualistic and social views; both have pleasant and unpleasant experiences, both are attractive and repellent. But both are still different like day and night and both face different audience like east and west.
It talks about innocence of childhood and also the brutality of the process through which it's taken away without a warning or signal. It takes you to familiar places from where you thought you had moved on. But you haven't. It still stings. It's still there. The wound of being robed of innocence is still there like a permanent tattoo hidden under the clothing.
Hard to read but heartrendingly beautiful 💖
April 29, 2022
Dvoumila sam se između 3 i 4,ali je previše filozofije ipak prevagnulo na nesto nizu ocjenu. Roman je ispričan kroz tri vremenska razdoblja i koliko god sam uzivala u neobičnosti i otkacenosti, pa i čudnim poglavljima iz prošlosti, suvremena me priča malo umorila. Ovo sigurno nije roman kojim biste htjeli upoznati pisanje Elif Shafak jer je zaista težak i slojevit i zahtjeva puno koncentracije, a u njenim drugima sam uzivala doslovno vecinom od prve do zadnje stranice.
Vrlo je metaforican, puno je prenesenog znacenja i ima jako zanimljivih aspekata. Ako volite sve to, a jos i filozofske dileme, nece vas razocarati.
Vrlo je metaforican, puno je prenesenog znacenja i ima jako zanimljivih aspekata. Ako volite sve to, a jos i filozofske dileme, nece vas razocarati.
June 4, 2019
Uzun zamandır okuma listemde bulunan bu kitabın konusunu bilmiyordum. Geçtiğimiz hafta pedofili iddialarıyla gündeme gelince çocuğa cinsel saldırı içeriğinin konuda nasıl bir yer bulduğunu araştırdım ve kitabı okumaya karar verdim. Ağız odaklı gerçekleşen saldırıdan sonra acı tadın silinmesi ve unutulması için durmadan tıkınırcasına yemeye başlamak ve obez olmak psikopatoloji açısından fazla doğrudan ve fazla psikanalitik olsa da yazar konuyu başarıyla işlemiş. Gündem olan sayfaların rahatsız edici olduğunu teslim ederek çocuğun gözünden travmayı olanca karanlığıyla aktarabildiğini düşünüyorum; rahatsız edici edebi içeriğe bu alarmist ve sansürcü yaklaşımı ise gülünç buluyorum.
Kitabın dili oldukça ağdalı, birçok kelime yersiz veya yanlış anlamda kullanılmış, çok katmanlı hikayelerin bağlantıları da yer yer zayıf kalmış. Görme-görülme konusu ve etrafındaki hikayeler, metaforlar vb. inanılmaz tekrar edilerek kitabın teması okuyucuya sayıklatılıyor adeta. Kitabın en beğendiğim kısımları Şafak'ın şişman bir insanın toplum içinde yaşadığı sorunları görülme ve var olma üzerinden anlattığı yerler oldu.
Elif Şafak'ı son işleri ve söylemleri nedeniyle tamamen çöpe atan okurlardan değilim; ilk basımlarını Metis'in yaptığı kitaplarını okunabilir buluyorum. Mahrem'i yazarın eski dönem işlerinden diğerlerini okumuş ve beğenmiş, yazarın diline aşina kişilere önerebilirim.
Kitabın dili oldukça ağdalı, birçok kelime yersiz veya yanlış anlamda kullanılmış, çok katmanlı hikayelerin bağlantıları da yer yer zayıf kalmış. Görme-görülme konusu ve etrafındaki hikayeler, metaforlar vb. inanılmaz tekrar edilerek kitabın teması okuyucuya sayıklatılıyor adeta. Kitabın en beğendiğim kısımları Şafak'ın şişman bir insanın toplum içinde yaşadığı sorunları görülme ve var olma üzerinden anlattığı yerler oldu.
Elif Şafak'ı son işleri ve söylemleri nedeniyle tamamen çöpe atan okurlardan değilim; ilk basımlarını Metis'in yaptığı kitaplarını okunabilir buluyorum. Mahrem'i yazarın eski dönem işlerinden diğerlerini okumuş ve beğenmiş, yazarın diline aşina kişilere önerebilirim.
July 1, 2015
This book was beautifully written, and I'm really hoping this writing style is consistent in Elif's other books as this was the first of hers I have read after seeing her give a talk at my university for International Women's Day. The book jumps back and forth between storylines and while it can be a little bewildering at first, it is in equal parts interesting and exciting. Luckily, all of the segments are tied up satisfyingly by the end. The mixing of fairytale and fable with apparent realism is really something to behold.
March 27, 2013
Didn't get on with this one, it wasn't quite what the blurb on the back told me...or rather it was, but a lot more besides... I was expecting a story about an obese lady and a dwarf and the trials of their relationship....Got few other stories besides, and didn't really feel I got to know either of the main characters until near the end.
March 5, 2025
"Sie schauen mich an, aber sie sehen mich nicht. Bis zu meinem Körper schaffen es ihre Blicke, bis zu meinen Augen nicht. Und bis in mein Inneres erst recht nicht."
Ich kann euch bei Gott nicht sagen, worum es in dem Buch geht. 3.5/5
Ich kann euch bei Gott nicht sagen, worum es in dem Buch geht. 3.5/5
September 21, 2016
Okay, I’ll admit, this book was a complete cover buy for me. I was on a college trip when I saw a book stall. Stopped by because come on, who would miss a chance like that? Saw the book and instantly fell in love. I had heard about the author and already had two of her books on my tbr. I wasn’t familiar with her writing style but how could I not buy it? IT HAS GOLD STARS ON THE COVER!!! And that’s how I ended up buying it. You would’ve guessed it by now but still, 5 stars for the cover.
And just with the cover I got my hopes high. I went into this book with a lot of expectations, and maybe that’s what I did wrong. When you read the synopsis it sounds so interesting but when i read the book, i was introduced with so many characters that I ended up getting confused. So many characters all together were too confusing.
I did enjoy some characters. BC, the dwarf annoyed me a lot. His attitude, behavior and his conceptions about different ideas. The narrator, the obese women, is my favourite character. The way one is able to read her thoughts and her beliefs about people and things.
The stories of the “bizarre freak show” in the tent were the most confusing of all. The background of the members of the show, the spectators, the acts; all caught one’s interest but sometimes the details got to confusing that I just couldn’t bear with them anymore.
I will agree that at some points I was on the urge to leave the book in the middle but by the end of the book I was completely absorbed in the book. I was attached to it. It was a mix of emotions for me.
Elif Shafak’s writing is quite different. The words she uses are beautiful. No matter how different her writing is, one can not ignore the fact that it is beautiful. Even though I gave the book only 3 stars, I am definitely going to read some other books by her.
Oh! and the Turkish vibes you get from this book are amazing *heart eyes*
And just with the cover I got my hopes high. I went into this book with a lot of expectations, and maybe that’s what I did wrong. When you read the synopsis it sounds so interesting but when i read the book, i was introduced with so many characters that I ended up getting confused. So many characters all together were too confusing.
I did enjoy some characters. BC, the dwarf annoyed me a lot. His attitude, behavior and his conceptions about different ideas. The narrator, the obese women, is my favourite character. The way one is able to read her thoughts and her beliefs about people and things.
The stories of the “bizarre freak show” in the tent were the most confusing of all. The background of the members of the show, the spectators, the acts; all caught one’s interest but sometimes the details got to confusing that I just couldn’t bear with them anymore.
I will agree that at some points I was on the urge to leave the book in the middle but by the end of the book I was completely absorbed in the book. I was attached to it. It was a mix of emotions for me.
Elif Shafak’s writing is quite different. The words she uses are beautiful. No matter how different her writing is, one can not ignore the fact that it is beautiful. Even though I gave the book only 3 stars, I am definitely going to read some other books by her.
Oh! and the Turkish vibes you get from this book are amazing *heart eyes*
March 16, 2017
I fell in love with Elif Shafak with 40 Rules of Love and since then I read Honour and The Bastard of Istanbul, both of which I enjoyed immensely. Her quintessential ability to time shift with the story narration, keeping the reader glued with her lovely prose and eastern history blended in. When I finished reading the The Gaze, my love for the author is unsurmountable and I wish I could meet her someday. I remember having the same feeling when I read Elizabeth Gilbert a decade ago.
The Gaze is unlike anything I have read before. It is composed of three stories, set in three different times, all exploring the subject of body image and desirability. The stories deal with different facets of being judged by one’s outward appearance. An overweight woman and her lover, a dwarf, are sick of being stared at wherever they go, and decide to reverse roles. The man goes out wearing make up, and the woman draws a moustache on her face. The couple deal with the gaze of passers by in different ways. The woman wants to hide away from the world, while the man meets them head on, even compiling his own ‘Dictionary of the Gaze’ to show the powerful effects a simple look can have. Shafak’s prose are a painful reminder of the damage done by our gaze at other people. The look we give to others. The look that we receive, all powerful reminders of the deep seated prejudices on outward appearances. It forces the reader to think long and hard about our own prejudices forces the reader to acknowledge that one gaze can be enough to hurt someone beyond belief.
Tip: The beginning of the story is not an easy read and recommend you to read at least 100 pages from wherein you will being to feel the high of her words in your veins.
August 6, 2015
Awful. Awful book.
June 16, 2017
This is the 5th novel I've read from Turkish author Elif Shafak. The main topic of the novel is what its title implies, meaning it is about people gazing, seeing, being seen, watching without really seeing.
The novel is divided in 2 parts: a contemporary story set in Istambul in 1999 and 1980 about an obese woman's life with a dwarf while the second part are a collection of 3 historical stories set in Siberia in the 17th century and in Pera and France in the 19th century.
I liked the historical stories more than the contemporary one because I actually understood all of them while I had difficulty understanding the contemporary one; especially the first chapters. The historical stories are written in linear mode, well, and easy to read. They're about the business of gazing in Siberia and Pera with 3 main characters: the Turkish sultan who organized a circus, a sable-woman and a very beautiful woman both put on display in the circus to a different audience.
The contemporary story wasn't written on a linera mode making it difficult to understand the story and what's going on. You basically need to read the entire novel to understand the chronologies of the event and their connections.
The author touches in this novel a very interesting subject that is common to us all. She makes us realizing:
- that this act of seeing intently is so common that it can also be turned into a business by any,
- people being gazed at or seen due to a difference also have a life and story of their own,
- while sometimes some things are not meant to be seen.
My favorite novels from Elif Shafak are still: "Forty rules of Love" and "The architect's apprentice".
The novel is divided in 2 parts: a contemporary story set in Istambul in 1999 and 1980 about an obese woman's life with a dwarf while the second part are a collection of 3 historical stories set in Siberia in the 17th century and in Pera and France in the 19th century.
I liked the historical stories more than the contemporary one because I actually understood all of them while I had difficulty understanding the contemporary one; especially the first chapters. The historical stories are written in linear mode, well, and easy to read. They're about the business of gazing in Siberia and Pera with 3 main characters: the Turkish sultan who organized a circus, a sable-woman and a very beautiful woman both put on display in the circus to a different audience.
The contemporary story wasn't written on a linera mode making it difficult to understand the story and what's going on. You basically need to read the entire novel to understand the chronologies of the event and their connections.
The author touches in this novel a very interesting subject that is common to us all. She makes us realizing:
- that this act of seeing intently is so common that it can also be turned into a business by any,
- people being gazed at or seen due to a difference also have a life and story of their own,
- while sometimes some things are not meant to be seen.
My favorite novels from Elif Shafak are still: "Forty rules of Love" and "The architect's apprentice".
December 23, 2013
I really really love that intermingled style of writing ı mean nearly four stories go hand in hand without any ambigous pace. Like a breath that you take when you got kindda familiar with one story that you are involved-reading,,, For example I like that fat woman most, that's why I read the other parts faster as to get to pieces together which ll place a whole story of the fat woman and her absurd-like lover:)
never-no-way
May 30, 2019Çocuk istismarı (cinsel istismar) içeren yerleri var. Okumak isteyenler için bir uyarı olarak bırakıyorum buraya...
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Includes child abuse / phedophilia.
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Includes child abuse / phedophilia.
March 3, 2025
Υπο άλλες συνθήκες, θα ήθελα να βαλω 4* (και κατι, ισως) σ' αυτο το απροσμενο περιεργο βιβλιο της Ελίφ Σαφάκ , με το οποιο απεκτησα μαζι της την πρωτη μου επαφή. Ομως αυτό το βιβλιο, το οποιο ενω κυκλοφορει στα ελληνικα με τον τιτλο Απόκρυφο απο τις εκδοσεις Εξαντα (εξαντλημενο στον εκδοτη) και σε μεταφραση απευθειας απο τα τουρκικά της Μαριας Χαρισιάδου (κατι που στα επομενα βιβλια της απο τις εκδοσεις Ψυχογιου δεν εχουμε- εχουμε δυστυχως μαλλον μεταφραση της μεταφρασης)
και χαρη στις προς το χειροτερο αλλαγες του γκουντριντς δεν μπορω να το περασω στην πλατφορμα και περιοριστηκα να ανεβασω την αγγλική του εκδοση, την οποια επισης πολύ δυσκολευτηκα να βρω.
Τοσο σπανιο ειναι αυτο το βιβλιο; Και γιατί;
(Παρενθεση και παραπονο τα προηγουμενα και:)
Ξαναγυρνωντας στο θεμα μας λοιπον: Ενα ξεχωριστο βιβλιο, κάπως μαγικό, με μια εμφανή επιρροη τομ Ρομπινς, πειραματισμους λογοτεχνιας τυπου περεκ Καλβινο κοκ αλλα και αναφορές (ή κλεμμένες ιδέες απο τον) Μάρκες και αλλους μαγικούς,
στην αρχη πηγα να το βαλω στην ακρη λογω της ιδιοτυπης γλώσσας και της φόρμας της - ποιηση και λεξιπλασια και ενωμενες λεξεις προτασεις, σουρεαλισμος, μπρος πισω στον χρονο και διαφορετικες εκδοχες και αποψεις μιας ιδιας (φανταστικής παντα) ιστοριας.
Ειδα ομως κατι σ αυτο και επεμεινα.
Δεν ειναι ενα ευκολο βιβλιο, αλλά με επιανα σε στιγμες που δεν το ειχα στα χερια μου να το αναζητω και να το σκεφτομαι. Κι αυτο με κερδισε. Κεντρισε το ενδιαφερον μου, μπηκε στο μυαλό μου, μου δημιουργουσε σκεψεις. Προβληματισμους.
Ενα πολυπλοκο αναγνωσμα, πολύ εξυπνο και πολύ πρωτοτυπο, καλοδουλεμένο σε πολλά επιπεδα και με παρεμβολες ρεαλισμου μεσα στο παραμυθι -
φοβερά νεωτεριστικό για τουρκική λογοτεχνία.
Ειναι απο αυτους που εζησαν στην Ανατολη και στη Δυση και κανουν αυτη τη συγκριση πολιτισμών με την καυστική ματιά και κοφτερή τους γλώσσα. Χωρις να καταφερνουν ν απαλλαγουν απο τις ιδεοληψιες και τα ηθη κι εθιμα που εχουν περασει στο συλλογικό Ασυνείδητο του Εθνους τους, και σε πεισμα αυτου αποσχιζονται συνειδητά βιαια και χλευάζουν και ξεμπροστιαζουν τη γραφικότητά του:
Τα λαθη τα κακως κειμενα τα στιγματα που αφηνει μια τετοια ολοκληρωτική κριτική κοινωνία. Γεμάτη μάτια. Γεμάτη λόγο.
Σαν η Σαφακ να εκανε πειράματα με τη γλωσσα και τη φορμα και το παραμυθι και την παραδοση.
Σαν να εκανε ασκησεις υφους και να συμπληρωνε γλωσσολογικά και υφολογικά σταυρόλεξα.
Αλλωστε και στις ΣτΜ συχνα αναφερονται τα λογοπαιγνια, τα οποια δυστυχως χανεις σ ενα μεταφρασμενο κειμενο.
Χωρις να ειναι η πρωτη που επιχειρει πειραματική - θα τολμησω να πω- λογοτεχνία, και πατωντας σε ιδέες προκατόχων της, οπως προανεφερα , ωστοσο ειναι ενα βιβλιο που καταφερε να μου τραβηξει την προσοχη και να μου κρατησει το ενδιαφερον απο την πρωτη ως και την τελευταια του σελιδα αμειωτο, κατι που μεγαλωνοντας, κι οσο γινομαι μανταμ Σνομπαρί με τα πιο μετρια βιβλία, ολο και σπανιοτερα μου συμβαινει.
Για ολους αυτους τους λογους και γιατι πιστευω οτι, ισως και λογω της λιγο ιδιαίτερης του φορμας και υφους, καπως αδικηθηκε στην κριτική και στη βαθμολογια, βαζω 5 αστερια αντι για τεσσερα που ηταν η κυριαρχη μου αντιληψη ως το τελος, γιατι νομιζω οτι γενικά υποεκτιμηθηκε. Και, διαβαζοντας αυτο το τόσο ιδιαιτερο βιβλιο, με τους εσωτερικους του συμβολισμους και την παγκόσμια άρρητή του γλώσσα, ευκολο να καταλάβεις και το γιατί συνεβη αυτό.
_________________
"Μερικές φορές η καρδιά αναποδογυρίζει. Καθώς προχωράει κουτουλάει πανω στο κλουβί του στέρνου. Πεφτει κατω με τα μουτρα. Νιωθει πως εχει σπάσει. Ψαχουλεύεται, δε βρισκει πανω της κανενα ορατό τραύμα. Ουρλιαζει με ολη της τη δυναμη "Πρεπει να βγω αμεσως εξω! Τωρα αμέσως". Ορμάει κλαίγοντας πάνω στα σίδερα του κλουβιού.. Κι οταν επιτέλους καταφέρει να δραπετεύσει κοιτάζει τους δρόμους που ξανοίγονται μπροστά της χωρις να μπορεσει να διαλέξει μια κατεύθυνση. [..]
Η καρδιά είναι ενα διαμαντένιο μάτι. Κι αν χαραχτεί έστω και μια φορά, θα κοιτάει πλέον ολο τον κόσμο μέσα απο ένα σεντεφένιο σκίσιμο"
February 1, 2021
Reading Elif Shafak is a thing of joy. For me at least, and I am guessing for most people as well. I am also one of those who perhaps didn’t enjoy The Forty Rules of Love: A Novel of Rumi as much as her other works, but even then, I will never write her off basis one book. Anyway, back to the point.
I have started a Elif Shafak Reading Project this year – to read one Shafak every month starting with The Gaze, which I reread in January. The Gaze still is my favourite book written by her. It unpacks so much. It is layered with so much – our preconceived notions about people, about the way they look, and how we look in that regard; of how the world views us, and how our desire to look at others takes life spinning in different orbits.
The Gaze is perhaps not Shafak’s popular book, but I absolutely adore it. A story that spans across time and characters that are embroiled in the concept of how they look and what it means to them. An obese woman and her lover, a dwarf, decide to reclaim the streets. They decide to step out in the world that ridicules them. So, they reverse roles. The man wears make-up and dresses like a woman. The woman sports a moustache on her face. This is their story.
There is then the story of Memis that takes place centuries ago – who decides to create a circus of people, and not animals – weird looking people to get others intrigued and curious to come and see them. At the same time, we see Memis’s loneliness and why he does what he does.
In all of this, there is also the Dictionary of The Gazes that the dwarf is working on. It is based on incidents, and movies, and what does the gaze mean at the end of the day.
Shafak’s prose shines on every page. The writing is terrific and for me it was hard to believe (as always) that this was one of her earlier works. The translation by Brendan Freely is on point. At no point do you feel that you are reading a translated work. The book is suggestive. The book is all sorts of unique and perhaps even difficult to get into. The book isn’t linear in its narrative and I love that about it. Read The Gaze to get a sense of Shafak’s writing and the worlds she conjures, as an extension of the world we inhabit.
I have started a Elif Shafak Reading Project this year – to read one Shafak every month starting with The Gaze, which I reread in January. The Gaze still is my favourite book written by her. It unpacks so much. It is layered with so much – our preconceived notions about people, about the way they look, and how we look in that regard; of how the world views us, and how our desire to look at others takes life spinning in different orbits.
The Gaze is perhaps not Shafak’s popular book, but I absolutely adore it. A story that spans across time and characters that are embroiled in the concept of how they look and what it means to them. An obese woman and her lover, a dwarf, decide to reclaim the streets. They decide to step out in the world that ridicules them. So, they reverse roles. The man wears make-up and dresses like a woman. The woman sports a moustache on her face. This is their story.
There is then the story of Memis that takes place centuries ago – who decides to create a circus of people, and not animals – weird looking people to get others intrigued and curious to come and see them. At the same time, we see Memis’s loneliness and why he does what he does.
In all of this, there is also the Dictionary of The Gazes that the dwarf is working on. It is based on incidents, and movies, and what does the gaze mean at the end of the day.
Shafak’s prose shines on every page. The writing is terrific and for me it was hard to believe (as always) that this was one of her earlier works. The translation by Brendan Freely is on point. At no point do you feel that you are reading a translated work. The book is suggestive. The book is all sorts of unique and perhaps even difficult to get into. The book isn’t linear in its narrative and I love that about it. Read The Gaze to get a sense of Shafak’s writing and the worlds she conjures, as an extension of the world we inhabit.
Read
August 9, 2024Ovo je za sada jedina knjiga E Shafak koju sam napustila…
August 18, 2017
(توجد مراجعة عربية أدناه)
"If only time never came to its senses. If somehow it wouldn't succeed in walking a straight line. If it would only lurch, behave nonsensically, fall to pieces. And we would watch, and, condemning its actions, would never have to refer to it again."
High up on a hill in Istanbul Kermate of wax pitched his cherry coloured tent where he'd display what the ottoman people wanted to see. Curiosity knew no classes from nobles and generals to the nobodies in the masses. In his tent he showcases what leaves women up like owls and keeps men down like polar bears in winter, this unusual show is suited for the world of spectacles. This is a story of perception as much as it is of gaze.
Gracefully written with a mixture of mythology, mental illness, a little bit of religion, and her own philosophy. This story ends where it begins. Although, pessimistic at parts the novel remained mystic and truthful overall.. and if you focous you'll notice who represents time
Note: The stars are reflective as the circus is of its audience
حتى تأتي لهذا العرض، عرض رجل الشمع، عليك أن تبذل مجهود لتصل إلى اعلى التل وأن يأتوا الرجال افراداً والنساء في جماعة. هذا العرض يسمى بعرض الغرباء كلهم مختارين بعناية للجمهور. اليست هي القباحة التي تخيف النساء العثمانيات وجمال النساء الذي يضايق الرجال؟ جمال كل النساء اللواتي أجمل من نسائهم.
تكون الكاتبة فلسفتها حول النظر بإختلاق شخصيات من الميثولوجية، الامراض النفسية وقطع من الأديان داعيةً بذلك القارئ إلى النظرة العميقة: الإمعان في النظر، واذا امعنت جيداً سوف تكتشف من هو الزمن.
الرواية ساحرة تقع احداثها بين الزمن العثماني والمعاصر، هي سوداوية بعض الشيء ولكنها صادقة
"If only time never came to its senses. If somehow it wouldn't succeed in walking a straight line. If it would only lurch, behave nonsensically, fall to pieces. And we would watch, and, condemning its actions, would never have to refer to it again."
High up on a hill in Istanbul Kermate of wax pitched his cherry coloured tent where he'd display what the ottoman people wanted to see. Curiosity knew no classes from nobles and generals to the nobodies in the masses. In his tent he showcases what leaves women up like owls and keeps men down like polar bears in winter, this unusual show is suited for the world of spectacles. This is a story of perception as much as it is of gaze.
Gracefully written with a mixture of mythology, mental illness, a little bit of religion, and her own philosophy. This story ends where it begins. Although, pessimistic at parts the novel remained mystic and truthful overall.. and if you focous you'll notice who represents time
Note: The stars are reflective as the circus is of its audience
حتى تأتي لهذا العرض، عرض رجل الشمع، عليك أن تبذل مجهود لتصل إلى اعلى التل وأن يأتوا الرجال افراداً والنساء في جماعة. هذا العرض يسمى بعرض الغرباء كلهم مختارين بعناية للجمهور. اليست هي القباحة التي تخيف النساء العثمانيات وجمال النساء الذي يضايق الرجال؟ جمال كل النساء اللواتي أجمل من نسائهم.
تكون الكاتبة فلسفتها حول النظر بإختلاق شخصيات من الميثولوجية، الامراض النفسية وقطع من الأديان داعيةً بذلك القارئ إلى النظرة العميقة: الإمعان في النظر، واذا امعنت جيداً سوف تكتشف من هو الزمن.
الرواية ساحرة تقع احداثها بين الزمن العثماني والمعاصر، هي سوداوية بعض الشيء ولكنها صادقة
October 31, 2016
I've read this book during almost two months .. first I have read about different stories from different places and centuries . That not at first sight ( or first consciousness ) seem like they were linked by something which could give birth to a perfect novel just as Elif always does .
I haven't felt bored while reading this book ,but I verily was annoyed because I didn't understand what was going on . this feeling was slowly disappearing as I approach the end . And , in the blink of an eye, I've found myself surrounded by the characters' eyes ,staring at me and laughing at my naive face , suddenly , they started to shout together on the top of their voices :
-What a stupid reader !! Look Elif ! she couldn't even see what was in front of her and she thinks she was 'reading' ?! What a soul blind reader you got , she couldn't figure out what our charming eyes are able to be and able to do ! , She , small real creature , youth girl with wrinkles on her face , naive , stupid girl who really believe in her , let's say intelligence , What? what a shame having such readers Elif !
Hearing that , I closed the book , looked around me : there is nobody watching ,then I started writing this review .
and Oooops , I remember what B-C ( the dwarf) said to the fat woman : 'Do you know , sometimes we get our deepest wounds through our eyes! '
I bitterly may add : 'Or through others' ones. '
I haven't felt bored while reading this book ,but I verily was annoyed because I didn't understand what was going on . this feeling was slowly disappearing as I approach the end . And , in the blink of an eye, I've found myself surrounded by the characters' eyes ,staring at me and laughing at my naive face , suddenly , they started to shout together on the top of their voices :
-What a stupid reader !! Look Elif ! she couldn't even see what was in front of her and she thinks she was 'reading' ?! What a soul blind reader you got , she couldn't figure out what our charming eyes are able to be and able to do ! , She , small real creature , youth girl with wrinkles on her face , naive , stupid girl who really believe in her , let's say intelligence , What? what a shame having such readers Elif !
Hearing that , I closed the book , looked around me : there is nobody watching ,then I started writing this review .
and Oooops , I remember what B-C ( the dwarf) said to the fat woman : 'Do you know , sometimes we get our deepest wounds through our eyes! '
I bitterly may add : 'Or through others' ones. '
May 3, 2014
I have never read anything like that before. I am awed by her ability to describe ordinary things of daily life such extraordinarily and extraordinary things such brilliantly.
When I started reading this book, I went through the reviews and was amused to see someone relating this book to an extremely fatty lasagna dish. The similarity is striking. Like a lasagna, you keep getting stuffed but you keep eating anyway because all the different flavors of cheese, meat, pasta and sauces keep stimulating you taste buds, complimenting each other yet keeping their own distinct taste. By the end of the novel, you are more than stuffed but down to the last chapter, you’ve almost digested your lasagna and as you close your book, you crave to eat lasagna once more.
Certainly not a light read but worth it.
When I started reading this book, I went through the reviews and was amused to see someone relating this book to an extremely fatty lasagna dish. The similarity is striking. Like a lasagna, you keep getting stuffed but you keep eating anyway because all the different flavors of cheese, meat, pasta and sauces keep stimulating you taste buds, complimenting each other yet keeping their own distinct taste. By the end of the novel, you are more than stuffed but down to the last chapter, you’ve almost digested your lasagna and as you close your book, you crave to eat lasagna once more.
Certainly not a light read but worth it.
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