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The Bastard of Istanbul

The powerful novel about family secrets from the award-winning author of The Island of Missing Trees

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The Bastard of Istanbul

By: Elif Shafak
Narrated by: Alix Dunmore
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Brought to you by Penguin.

A gripping and beautiful novel from Elif Shafak, Booker-shortlisted author of The Island of Missing Trees and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World

One rainy afternoon in Istanbul a woman walks into a doctor's surgery. 'I want an abortion,' she announces. She is nineteen years old, and unmarried. What happens that afternoon will change her life, and the lives of everyone around her.

Twenty years later, Asya Kazanci lives with her extended family in Istanbul. A mysterious curse causes all the men to die by the age of 41, so it is a house of women, among them her beautiful, rebellious mother, Zeliha, clairvoyant Auntie Banu and bar-brawl widow, Auntie Cevriye. But when Asya’s Armenian-American cousin Armanoush comes to stay, long hidden family secrets connected with Turkey's turbulent past begin to emerge.

'Wonderfully magical, incredible, breathtaking...will have you gasping with disbelief in the last few pages' Sunday Express

'A beautiful book, the finest I have read about Turkey' Irish Times

'Heartbreaking...the beauty of Islam pervades Shafak's book' Vogue

© Elif Shafak 2007 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

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My second by this author (10 minutes...), a deep dive into a world of the Feminine and Turkish/Armenian history. I was enthralled and appalled, her characters live so vividly (Alix Dunmore is superb!)
A couple of months back I read Mary Ann Sieghart's "The Authority Gap" and only then found out that many men simply won't read a book by a woman ! You fools. I am a 70 year old retired teacher, male, white, irish and various other labels. Elif Shafak writes about people, she moves me.....thank you.

Powerful, seductive writing

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My interest did ebb & flow somewhat, however I found the book a fascinating insight into Turkish life, society & their troubled historical relationship with the Armenians.

Fascinating insight into Istanbul, the relationship between the Turks and Armenians through the lens of a novel.

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It was the title that attracted me to buy this book as Turkey & Istanbul is on the list of places I would love to visit one day soon as it has such a fascinating history. Also what intrigued me is that the author was taken to court for 'insulting Turkishness' in her portrayal of Armenian genocide. I was not disappointed, it is a beautifully written book which I couldn't put down. I have added Elif Shafak to the list of my favourite authors and already ordered another book by her The Forty Rules of Love.

What a captivating listen!

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I love the setting in Turkey. The daughter calling her mother Auntie. The ending of Mustafa. Brilliant book!

The stories of each character

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As with all of Shafak’s novels, a beautifully articulated history filled with power and emotion. Strong female characters and a story I was drawn to almost from the first word. Highly recommend all her work!

Always fantastic

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