Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Why haven't I read Elif Shafak?
Woman's voice on BBC Radio today. Mid discussion. I can't quite place her accent. Thoughtful, lucid, bold, principled.
I listen some more, and the pieces begin to fall into place. A writer in English and Turkish. She and her family now live in London.
And, Yes. I have heard her name before. Now I've heard her voice and some of her views.
I look up the titles of her books; nearly every one intrigues me. Anyone on HoL likes and reads her?
Which book should I buy first?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alison M
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I've read one of hers - "The Island of Missing Trees" which I enjoyed a lot, but can't remember very well now (it was a library book so can't refresh my memory). A good story, well told, and I learnt a lot (at the time) about Cyprus and its difficult history. Unfortunately the details have slipped past my aging brain, but I would recommend it.
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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton
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Thanks Alison, I'll look out for the Missing Trees.
I was especially curious about another listed title. "The Forty Rules of Love".So I watched Elif Shafak interviewed about this book. The conversation is in a YouTube video where she gives generous responses to what seemed deeply felt questions.
Here's the link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CPHpaBcg2o
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Admin for testingPermalink Reply by Hugh -
I've read The Architect's Apprentice and There are Rivers in the Sky. I preferred Architect, but I think others prefer Rivers.
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Permalink Reply by Kate
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Enjoy reading her - agree Missing Trees is splendid (and very relevant to Haringey in its coverage of dispossession.) There are Rivers in the Sky is equally enjoyable . Perhaps read Honour as first introduction to her work - she is a wonderful writer. How lovely to be starting on her works
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Thanks, Hugh and Kate, and everyone else thinking of recommending their favourites.
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An interview with her in Guardian three days ago
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Thanks for pasting the Guardian link, Kate.
And for the doubly curious here's the link to the previous Ted Talk mentioned:
"https://www.ted.com/talks/elif_shafak_the_politics_of_fiction"Which I'm looking forward to watching and listening again. With my finger hovering over the mouse to pause and think about the humour and insights that made me smile.
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