Bloomsbury Publishing
Publishing date December 3, 2019
Turkish Literature
Description
In the pulsating moments after she has been murdered and left in a dumpster outside Istanbul, Tequila Leila enters a state of heightened awareness. While the Turkish sun rises above her and her friends asleep soundly nearby, she contemplates her mortal existence before eternal rest.
Tequila Leila's memories bring us back to her childhood in the provinces, a highly oppressive milieu where a loving mother is no match for a strict, unforgiving 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 they who bring her story to a buoyant and breathtaking conclusion.
My view
Elif Shafak's latest novel takes the reader to Istambul.
The protagonists Leila and her friends face the consequences of living under a male dominated society.
Five.women struggling to free themselves from a patriarchal society.
I found the premise of the story interesting. 10 minutes 38 seconds refers to the time the brain continues to function after death. I believe we all heard of "life flashing by at the moment of death"
The novel begins with Leila, her body in a rubbish bin, Leila has been murdered, With her memories intact she remembers her very birth in a town far from Istambul, Van a small muslim town where patriarchy is the norm, as in many small towns surrounding Turkey. As the story progresses, each chapter is a minute less from 10 minutes 38 seconds.
Leila shares this novel in equal parts with Humeyra, Zaynap, Jameelah and Nalan, four women we will meet along with Leila. I liked how every woman was an equal with her story throughout the novel, five women friends.
Istambul can be unforgiving to girls lost in it's immensity, it's diversity of religion, extraordinary wealth and poverty. Lila will find her new home in Istambul's red district. A business licenced by the city.
Girls arriving from small towns surrounding Turkey are most vulnerable to sex traffickers, some survive through prostitution some die at the hands of such men.
This novel takes place in Turkey, sex trafficking takes place around the world.
The author Elif Shafak's novels have been banned in Turkey, for exposing the true face of this country who thrives to modernize itself yet still remains for the most part a patriarchal society in many ways. The author now lives in London where she is active in women's rights.
A must read. A well written story.
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this arc
Elif Shafak's latest novel takes the reader to Istambul.
The protagonists Leila and her friends face the consequences of living under a male dominated society.
Five.women struggling to free themselves from a patriarchal society.
I found the premise of the story interesting. 10 minutes 38 seconds refers to the time the brain continues to function after death. I believe we all heard of "life flashing by at the moment of death"
The novel begins with Leila, her body in a rubbish bin, Leila has been murdered, With her memories intact she remembers her very birth in a town far from Istambul, Van a small muslim town where patriarchy is the norm, as in many small towns surrounding Turkey. As the story progresses, each chapter is a minute less from 10 minutes 38 seconds.
Leila shares this novel in equal parts with Humeyra, Zaynap, Jameelah and Nalan, four women we will meet along with Leila. I liked how every woman was an equal with her story throughout the novel, five women friends.
Istambul can be unforgiving to girls lost in it's immensity, it's diversity of religion, extraordinary wealth and poverty. Lila will find her new home in Istambul's red district. A business licenced by the city.
Girls arriving from small towns surrounding Turkey are most vulnerable to sex traffickers, some survive through prostitution some die at the hands of such men.
This novel takes place in Turkey, sex trafficking takes place around the world.
The author Elif Shafak's novels have been banned in Turkey, for exposing the true face of this country who thrives to modernize itself yet still remains for the most part a patriarchal society in many ways. The author now lives in London where she is active in women's rights.
A must read. A well written story.
Thank you to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for this arc
