10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak
Reviewed by Linda
📘📘📘📘📘
In a note from the author, Elif writes that the characters and events in this book are not real but not completely fictitious either. But what is explicit, is that these scenarios do exist and as perfect as ever, Elif gives a voice to the voiceless.
Taking us through various landscapes in 20th century Van and Istanbul, we are introduced to several facets of Turkish society through the lens of our protagonist Leila in the immediate 10 minutes and 38 seconds after her brutal murder. At the time of her death, Leila, an accomplished prostitute, leaves behind a legacy of memories and formative life events which come to mind as her body shuts down one organ at a time.
Her murder signifies much more than a tragic loss of life but the failure of Turkish society to represent and protect its most vulnerable citizens. In her life Leila makes five trusted friends each drawing to one another from a different corner of the earth and a different walk of life, but all simultaneously rejected by everyone else due to religion, sexuality, social class, and ethnicity. Elif depicts the companionship of these characters so clearly and even after death they are determined to honour the name of their dearest friend by putting her soul and body to rest when society doesn’t.
I didn’t really hear about this novel until it was long-listed for the #manbookerprize2019 - probably the only time I’ve properly paid attention to the prize. In any case, Elif strikes again and what I love is that each piece of her work is an education.
