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Jibran's Reviews > My Name is Red
My Name is Red
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Arguably the best novel of Orhan Pamuk. Set in Istanbul during the height of Ottoman power, this novel is a tribute to the art of painting as well as a fascinating murder mystery which will keep you hooked till the end. The unusual narrative is felt with full force right from the start - as you read the first chapter, starting with the voice of a corpse at the bottom of the well wondering who was the wretched man that killed him.
Then ensues a beautiful exploration of the 16th century Istanbul's art scene, its many rivalries, and in between breaths a heartfelt love story that keeps the main protagonist on his heels, as he finds his way through the internecine politics at home and at court. This story is a fascinating example of the possibilities of modern global novel. Must read.
Then ensues a beautiful exploration of the 16th century Istanbul's art scene, its many rivalries, and in between breaths a heartfelt love story that keeps the main protagonist on his heels, as he finds his way through the internecine politics at home and at court. This story is a fascinating example of the possibilities of modern global novel. Must read.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
January 1, 2012
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Finished Reading
February 24, 2014
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Mala
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rated it 4 stars
Feb 25, 2015 06:54AM
This book was recommended to me by my GR friend Gregsamsa. He is a huge fan of Pamuk. I liked it a lot but guess what, I somehow guessed the identity of the murderer long before the ending. I think the clues were dropped by way of painting style & certain dialogues.
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My friend who recommended this novel to me claimed that to tell a really intelligent reader from an average one is to see if they would guess the identity of the murderer before the writer revealed it. I couldn't :D But I loved the book nonetheless. Since then I have read four more Pamuk books and I have liked them all. Snow in particular was a magnificent, highly charged story. I have a few notes written down somewhere; I think I will straighten them and add the review on GR.
Many thanks for the comment, Mala :)
I was going to remove this book from my TBR until I read your review. I didn't have much luck with my first Pamuk, hopefully I fare better with this one!
Rowena wrote: "I was going to remove this book from my TBR until I read your review. I didn't have much luck with my first Pamuk, hopefully I fare better with this one!"Pamuk can be unpredictable especially when his characters resemble no more than political symbols (which one did you read btw?). But this one is different and it's his most well-known and highly praised novel. I'm confident you'll enjoy it Rowena. And I'm glad my scribblings could persuade you to try it :) I wish I could write a proper review but I couldn't do that without revisiting the book I'd read 3 or so years ago. Anyway thanks so much for taking the time off your busy schedule to comment. Hope your project is going well :)
I was somewhat underwhelmed, even though I think it's a significant piece of literature.
Nandakishore wrote: "I was somewhat underwhelmed, even though I think it's a significant piece of literature."Pamuk builds the story through intense improvisation, advancing the plot incrementally through subtle repetitions, especially when he's expounding on medieval miniature painting scene. Some people don't like that style. I remember some long and tedious passages but I overcame it in time to immerse myself in the main story. What in particular underwhelmed you, if I may ask?
I found it heavy going: could not empathise with the characters: it read more like a treatise than a novel. Only the historical context kept my interest.
Nandakishore wrote: "I found it heavy going: could not empathise with the characters: it read more like a treatise than a novel. Only the historical context kept my interest."Heavy it is, indeed. But the mystery held my interest. And then I connected so well with Shekure <3
Jibran wrote: "Rowena wrote: "I was going to remove this book from my TBR until I read your review. I didn't have much luck with my first Pamuk, hopefully I fare better with this one!"Pamuk can be unpredictable..."
I read The Museum of Innocence. Beautiful writing but the characters really annoyed me. I look forward to reading this one because of your review. My thesis work is going well, thanks so much for asking:)
Rowena wrote: "Jibran wrote: "Rowena wrote: "I was going to remove this book from my TBR until I read your review. I didn't have much luck with my first Pamuk, hopefully I fare better with this one!"Pamuk can b..."
Ah no wonder! If I had read The Museum of Innocence first I'd probably not want to read another Pamuk book! Of the five Pamuk novels I've read The Music... is the weakest novel. The story starts, and it stalls for 75% of the novel, and then it ends...It is also the only Pamuk book I rated at 3 stars.
Good to know your thesis is going fine. Wish you timely success on that one Rowena :)
I like the sound of this, Jibran - I love the idea of an art/crime story, and works of art being described would keep me happy regardless of the plot! But I understand what you were saying elsewhere about genre borders. Where would this one fit? Perhaps the easy answer is literary fiction, though some dislike it as a category, I find it a good guide. I've read Pamuk's Snow and found it impressive although a Turkish friend was scathing but that was probably related to him having different politics;-)
Fionnuala wrote: "I like the sound of this, Jibran - I love the idea of an art/crime story, and works of art being described would keep me happy regardless of the plot! But I understand what you were saying elsewhe..."
Glad to know that Fio. If you liked Snow you'll like My Name is Red even more. Pamuk's is at his best in this one. I will look forward to your artistic review :)
Jibran wrote: "Rowena wrote: "Jibran wrote: "Rowena wrote: "I was going to remove this book from my TBR until I read your review. I didn't have much luck with my first Pamuk, hopefully I fare better with this one..."Ah, that's good to know! I only rated that book 3 stars also. Here's hoping I'll have better luck with this book. Thanks, Jibran:)
Thanks for your review here. I read another of his books - The White Castle. A fine, fine writer. This will be my next of his.
Read this book and enjoyed it, Jibran .Terrific review.
Glenn wrote: "Thanks for your review here. I read another of his books - The White Castle. A fine, fine writer. This will be my next of his."
I'm glad to know you liked The White Castle. I think you enjoy literary riddles that push the boundaries of imagination. I loved the vein of madness that led the Venetian captive and the Turkish Hoja to swap identities in a sort of mutual fascination so that they, and the reader, couldn't tell who was who. Brilliant right? I think I will review that one soon. For My Name is Red you have my express rec. Thanks for the comment, Glenn :)
Henry wrote: "Read this book and enjoyed it, Jibran .Terrific review."Thanks for reading Henry. I'd very much like to write an expanded review. There is so much in this novel to talk about. The Western/Eastern perspective of painting that lead to an implied civilisational conflict being one of the most fascinating themes in the novel, not to mention the extended comment on medieval miniature art. I learned so much!
Jibran wrote: "Glenn wrote: "Thanks for your review here. I read another of his books - The White Castle. A fine, fine writer. This will be my next of his."
I'm glad to know you liked The White Castle. I th..."
Yes! I read when first published years ago. John Updike reviewed the book and was really awestruck by the young author's talent.
Nice review, Jibran. This book has been on my to-read list forever. You've made it sound quite intriguing.
Mona wrote: "Nice review, Jibran. This book has been on my to-read list forever. You've made it sound quite intriguing."Thank you, Mona. I'm glad my little note of a review managed to raise your interest in the book. Sometimes less is more! Though as I said above I'd have liked to review the book in detail for its richness of storytelling. Perhaps some day if I can revisit the novel again. In the meantime I will look forward to your take on this one :)
Elyse wrote: "Great review. I might try this sometime. I almost picked it up at my used bookstore. I wasn't crazy about Snow -however -I was head-over-heels over "The Museum of Innocence"...(OMG --did you read..."Might be that they mislaid your request, or probably you forgot to put in a request and thought you did! But I'd definitely recommend My Name is Red to you. I have read Museum of Innocence. Beautiful intense writing that's his signature mark, a lot of improvisation, though I thought half way down the book the story stalled but the end was heartrending no? I have red Snow as well, and loved it for its complex symbolism. I have a review of it I plan to fix and post on GR.
Thanks for the lovely comment, Elyse. You're always so encouraging :)
Someone had posted a comment asking who did I think was the killer. I deleted the comment accidentally so apologies for that. I think I'd rather not say here for fear of spoiling it for others. The novel is certainly more than the murder mystery (which is done very well) but I'd rather still not say publicly. And since the comment wasn't from one of my GR friends, I'm not able to communicate with the poster through private message.
Alan wrote: "glad you enjoyed the book. pamuk really is one of the best, if not the best, novelists alive"Absolutely! I'm a huge fan of Pamuk's work.
This is my favorite Pamuk novel, as well. But I'm sure you'll love his new book "Nights of Plague" once it's translated into English, too. Probably his best novel after winning the Nobel prize, considering he started the novel in 2017, before all this Covid nightmare started.
