This was the first book I read by the great Turkish contemporary writer Orhan Pamuk (winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature) and it got me hooked. It has been described as a "metaphysical detective story" and is written in a very interesting experimental style - basically using dual narration. It shifts back and forth between the main narrative in which a young lawyer Galip searches for his missing wife Ruya. It so happens that Ruya's half brother Celil is also missing. He is a very popular columnist in an Istanbul newspaper who writes feature items about the city. The other of the twin narratives consists of columns written by Celil which cover a wide range of historical, political, cultural and artistic aspects of Istanbul life. So the story alternates between the story of Galip's search and Celil's columns. The two narratives begin to blend as do the identities of Galip and Celil. The story as told is fascinating and multi-faceted and rich with the atmosphere of Pamuk's beloved Istanbul. It's a great book for readers who don't mind a bit of postmodern dislocation which does not interfere with readability.
Click here for a review of the book from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/aug/06/shopping.orhanpamuk
Click here for a review of the book from The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2006/aug/06/shopping.orhanpamuk
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