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The Bastard of Istanbul

By Elif Shafak
Series: Penguin Essentials
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak explores the intertwined fates of two families, one in America and the other in Turkey. The narrative follows Asya, a rebellious Istanbul teenager, and Armanoush, an Armenian-American seeking the truth about her heritage. As their paths cross, secrets from the past unravel, revealing personal and cultural histories that deeply connect them.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you're interested in a richly layered narrative that explores themes of identity, family, and cultural heritage. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Istanbul, it intertwines the lives of two families connected by a shared history. Fans of thought-provoking fiction that delves into personal and collective memory may find it particularly captivating.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A breath-taking novel about a violent secret that threatens the peace of two interwoven families – now a Penguin Essential.

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 is to change her life, and the lives of everyone around her.

Twenty years later, Asya Kazanci lives with her extended family in Istanbul. Due to a mysterious family curse all the men die by age 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 and Turkey's turbulent past begin to emerge.

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak offers a vivid portrait of the interplay between personal and historical legacies, examining how past traumas shape the present and entwine destinies across generations.

Series: Penguin Essentials

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    A breath-taking novel about a violent secret that threatens the peace of two interwoven families – now a Penguin Essential. 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 is to change her life, and the lives of everyone around...
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Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

iThe Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak is celebrated for its courageous and passionate storytelling, laden with vibrant energy and a purposeful narrative. It weaves a lively, rich tale that reviewers have praised for being handled with a light, enchanting touch. The novel features an array of eccentric characters, offering an entertaining, insightful take on family, culture, and coincidence.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241986448

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 June 2019

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Penguin Books Ltd

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 111.0mm

Height: 180.0mm

Weight: 200g

Pages: 368

Collections

Elif Shafak Fiction General Fiction Literary Fiction Penguin Books Series: Penguin Essentials

About the Author

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British Turkish novelist, whose work has been translated into fifty-six languages. The author of nineteen books, thirteen of which are novels, she is a bestselling author in many countries around the world. Shafak's last novel, The Island of Missing Trees, was a top ten Sunday Times bestseller, and was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and the Women's Prize for Fiction. Her novel 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and the RSL Ondaatje Prize. There Are Rivers in the Sky is her latest novel.

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