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10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World Kindle Edition
Named a Best Book of the Year by Bookpage, NPR, Washington Post, and The Economist
A moving novel on the power of friendship in our darkest times, from internationally renowned writer and speaker Elif Shafak.
In the pulsating moments after she has been murdered and left in a dumpster outside Istanbul, Tequila Leila enters a state of heightened awareness. Her heart has stopped beating but her brain is still active-for 10 minutes 38 seconds. While the Turkish sun rises and her friends sleep soundly nearby, she remembers her life-and the lives of others, outcasts like her.
Tequila Leila's memories bring us back to her childhood in the provinces, a highly oppressive milieu with religion and traditions, shaped by a polygamous family with two mothers and an increasingly authoritarian father. Escaping to Istanbul, Leila makes her way into the sordid industry of sex trafficking, finding a home in the city's historic Street of Brothels. This is a dark, violent world, but Leila is tough and open to beauty, light, and the essential bonds of friendship.
In Tequila Leila's death, the secrets and wonders of modern Istanbul come to life, painted vividly by the captivating tales of how Leila came to know and be loved by her friends. As her epic journey to the afterlife comes to an end, it is her chosen family who brings her story to a buoyant and breathtaking conclusion.
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherBloomsbury Publishing
- Publication dateSeptember 24, 2019
- File size6019 KB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“Shafak writes with vision, bravery and compassion . . . a stunning portrait of a city, a society, a small community and a single soul.” ―The New York Times Book Review
“A deeply humane story about the cruel effects of Turkey's intolerant sexual attitudes . . . Shafak is a master of captivating moments that provide a sprawling and intimate vision of Istanbul . . . Ultimately, “10 Minutes” isn't really about death, but the persistence of love . . . Leila's ragtag friends, scorned and mocked by polite society, can't possibly triumph over the forces of religious and political corruption, but they - and Shafak - manage to create something truly subversive: a community of devotion beyond the reach of state or mosque.” ―The Washington Post
“A beautifully written tour de force of exemplary storytelling . . . Its powerful insights into Turkey's past and present challenges and the world today make it highly recommended.” ―Library Journal, starred review
“Extraordinary . . . a piercing, unflinching look at the trauma women's minds and bodies are subjected to in a social system defined by patriarchal codes.” ―The Guardian
“Ever-courageous Turkish writer Shafak creates another resilient woman protagonist at odds with Turkey's repressive society . . . [A] seductively imaginative, rambunctiously humorous, complexly tragic, and lyrically redemptive tale . . . Shafak's motley and compassionate cast embodies both the brutal consequences of tyranny and the power of individuals to undermine it in a full-tilt novel set in a fabled city, a swirling microcosm of human complexity and paradox.” ―starred review, Booklist
“Gripping . . . Through flashbacks to [the protagonist's] life in modern-day Turkey, minute by minute, you'll feel her wonder, her joy, her pain. You'll feel empathy for a girl whose life is upended from the day she is born. It's companionship with other Istanbul transplants that saves Leila from complete despair. And as you get to know Leila's other friends on the margins of society, you find yourself rooting for them in the unlikeliest of endeavors.” ―NPR's Book Concierge
“Shafak portrays Istanbul in all its glorious chaos against the backdrop of civil unrest that culminated in the Taksim Square Massacre of 1977. Despite being harassed by Turkish authorities for her depiction of sexual violence, the author uses the megaphone of her 12th novel to further expose female exploitation and sexual abuse. In this way she succeeds in giving a voice to the voiceless.” ―Shelf Awareness
“This is a vividly realized and complicated portrait of a woman making a life for herself in grueling circumstances, and of the labyrinthine city in which she does so.” ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Lyrical and often magical . . . a love-letter to Istanbul.” ―The Economist
“A bold step forward by Turkey's most significant woman writer . . . Elif Shafak is enormously gifted.” ―Counterpunch
“Elif Shafak's audacious, dazzlingly original storytelling brings Istanbul's underworld to life via the vivid recollections of sex worker Tequila Leila, recently dumped for dead in a rubbish bin . . . A work of fearless imagination, the story takes the reader into the vertiginous world of its irresistible heroine, whose bloody-minded determination and fierce optimism make her an unforgettable character whose death, albeit foretold, still comes as a shattering blow. Courageous and utterly captivating, this telling novel is a testament to the power of friendship and of the human spirit.” ―The Booker Prize panel
“A heartbreaking meditation on the ways in which social forces can destroy a life. Elif Shafak can be unsparing, lyrical, political, intimate... Several novels live in this one, and all of them are moving, generous and elegantly written.” ―Juan Gabriel Vásquez, author of THE SOUND OF THINGS FALLING and REPUTATIONS
“Elif Shafak brings into the written realm what so many others want to leave outside. Spend more than ten minutes and 38 seconds in this world of the estranged. Shafak makes a new home for us in words.” ―Colum McCann, author of LET THE GREAT WORLD SPIN
“Haunting, moving, beautifully written-and based by an extraordinary cast of characters who capture the diversity of modern Turkey. A masterpiece.” ―Peter Frankopan, author of THE NEW SILK ROADS
“[Elif Shafak is] one of the best writers in the world today.” ―Hanif Kureishi
“Simply magnificent, a truly captivating work of immense power and beauty, on the essence of life and its end.” ―Philippe Sands, author of EAST WEST STREET
“A work of brutal beauty and consummate tenderness” ―Simon Schama, author of The Story of the Jews
“A vivid carnival of life and death, cruelty and kindness, love, politics and deep humanity.” ―Helena Kennedy, author of Eve Was Shamed
“A rich, sensual novel . . . that gives voice to the invisible, the untouchable, the abused and the damaged, weaving their painful songs into a thing of beauty.” ―Financial Times
“Beneath the lush scene-setting and romantic storytelling . . . are strident calls to challenge fundamentalism and misogyny in the Middle East.” ―The Times
“Lush, evocative and compassionate.” ―Mail on Sunday
About the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B07WSPK7D5
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing; 1st edition (September 24, 2019)
- Publication date : September 24, 2019
- Language : English
- File size : 6019 KB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Sticky notes : On Kindle Scribe
- Print length : 317 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #86,879 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #80 in LGBTQ+ Literary Fiction (Kindle Store)
- #420 in Friendship Fiction (Books)
- #468 in Friendship Fiction (Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist. She has published 19 books, 12 of which are novels. She is a bestselling author in many countries around the world and her work has been translated into 55 languages. Her latest novel
The Island of Missing Trees, shortlisted for the Costa Award, RSL Ondaatje Prize and Women’s Prize for Fiction. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize; and was Blackwell’s Book of the Year. The Forty Rules of Love was chosen by BBC among the 100 Novels that Shaped Our World. The Architect’s Apprentice was chosen for the Duchess of Cornwall’s inaugural book club, The Reading Room. 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 also holds a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Bard College.
Shafak is a Fellow and a Vice President of the Royal Society of Literature. She is a founding member of ECFR (European Council on Foreign Relations). An advocate for women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of expression, Shafak is an inspiring public speaker and twice TED Global speaker. Shafak contributes to major publications around the world and she was awarded the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In 2017 she was chosen by Politico as one of the twelve people “who will give you a much needed lift of the heart”. Shafak has judged numerous literary prizes, including PEN Nabokov prize and she has chaired the Wellcome Prize.
www.elifshafak.com
Twitter @Elif_Safak
Instagram @shafakelif
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Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Like Leila, five of her closest friends are on the margins of Istanbul society . The reader learns about their varied backgrounds and nationalities and how they came to live in Istanbul. In the second section, the friends, in their grief, cling to each other for companionship and solace after Leila's death. Their actions are so farcical and improbable in this section that they not only dishonor Leila, but also detract from the beauty of the first section. Fortunately, in the final section, the author reverts to her original writing style and the story is redeemed. Despite this unevenness, credit is due to the author for presenting a unique hook to draw the reader into an exotic city and a star-crossed heroine.
Top reviews from other countries
There are 3 parts - the Mind, the Body and the Soul. Each of them is then split into small, named sections. The book has 306 pages and was first published in 2019.
The concept of the novel reveals itself immediately. Leila has died and spends the next 10 minutes 38 seconds looking back at her life. Her memories jump around and we gradually build up a picture of her struggles, leading to an undignified demise in a rubbish bin.
I love a book that uses an unusual premise. Whilst a dead person looking back isn't completely unique, it is certainly uncommon and the author achieves the images beautifully.
The writing is lyrical and almost poetic, many times demanding that the readers slows down to savour each word. I could see the beauty of the country from different perspectives that are not often imagined to be beautiful.
The characters around Leila are fantastic and full of life - they are all bold and eclectic but there are no stereotypes. They are all given time to form naturally, with great depth and sensitivity.
At its heart this book is about a person, looking at her relationships with the world - good and bad.
Because I loved the book so much I was carried away with the story, with no concern about plausibility. I cared for the people and wanted more of them when I got to the end.
Like any good story, Leila's is not given easily to the reader. It is vaguely chronological and we only see snippets then need to fill in the rest with our imaginations - this is exactly how a story should be told as it engages readers.
There are many strong elements to the book which weave together beautifully. The most prominent is Leila herself though and she dominants all thoughts and dialog throughout the whole story - this is a brilliant piece of structured and focused writing.
Leila touches everyone and this presence is also felt by the reader.
Unexpectedly comedy also shines through strongly - in a slapstick and dark style that gives great contrast to the other parts of the book. The scene around the grave is a genius piece or writing.
So many times whilst reading I laughed or gasped out loud and the ending was no exception.
The last few chapters are perfect and the Epilogue draws a satisfying conclusion. Particularly interesting is the Note to the Reader that explains a lot to me.
The best, most beautiful, beguiling and moving story I’ve read since KH
Gives you an idea about the culture
It’s ideas of costumes and people of Istanbul
And Van , Turkey .
Written with a different perspective of events I loved reading and enjoyed the book from start to end !
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World follows the mind, body, and soul of Leila during the minutes after she was murdered and left in a trash bin. Readers walk with Leila through her early childhood memories and family life and are introduced through her memories to “the 5,” Leila’s closest friends and eventually get to meet them directly in the second part of the text.
This tale was a story of genuine friendship, of the people we collect throughout our lives and how we shape and have our lives shaped by those around us. Its underlying message was hopeful, but all the same, there were pages in the book where I could feel the weight of my worry and anxiety for the fate of the characters and hurt as we learned about their traumatic pasts, grief, and suffering that eventually led them to one another.
There were so many beautiful passages in this book, and I truly recommend getting your hands on a copy.