Written by: Arshia Abid
Posted on: September 12, 2023 | 
| 中文
The author Elif Shafak and the book cover
“Just because it’s safe here, it doesn’t mean this is the right place for you,” her heart countered. “Sometimes where you feel most safe is where you least belong.”
Blackwell’s Book of the Year, 10 minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World, by the eminent Turkish-British novelist, political scientist and activist, Elif Shafak, captivates and rouses the readers with its inspiring characters and thought-provoking events.
Elif Shafak
Set in 1990’s Istanbul, the book follows the story of Leila, famously known as Tequila Leila, just as she is on the verge of her death. But during her last breathes, just before her soul leaves for its eternal travel, she gets memories – flashbacks of her not so mundane life, for exactly 10 minutes and 38 seconds. The first memory of her birth, memory of her father celebrating birth of a long-awaited boy, memory of each oppression she was victim to, memory of leaving her family and her house behind, memory of the handsome student she met at the brothel and memories of all the friends she met along the way.
As Leila goes through this voyage of her past, readers get a deep-insight into Leila’s world of repression, tragedy, grief, love and friendship. This novel brings us an exceptional character of Leila, who after surviving and escaping the clutches of her conservative family, had to face unfortunate consequences for her freedom. But also remained headstrong through all the adversities life has thrown her way and has gained some life-long friendships and love along the way. The author eloquently expresses Leila’s emotions and feelings towards her memories, making the audience relate to her. Elif Shafak skillfully gives life to the supporting characters, as well. Leila’s chosen family, each of her eccentric and delightful friends, have their own distinct and dynamic stories, tragedies, struggles and backgrounds. These diverse characters reflect the importance of nontraditional families established by sharing grievances and providing support. This group of “water friends” of Leila, is the heart of the novel, representing the power human connection holds.
Istanbul in the 1990s
The poetic prose used in the novel creates rhythmic effect and enhances sensory impression, engaging imagery and powerful emotions in the reader’s mind. The evocative and vivid descriptions of Istanbul during the 90’s, references to its traditional culture, exquisite food and devout people gives the city a breathing life of its own. This illustration of Istanbul makes it a character itself, creating a graphic backdrop which elevates the narrative. Elif Shafak’s words are a woven art of emotions, blending flawlessly with Leila’s past and her multifarious friends who are a larger part of her life. The author has exceptionally structured the novel in ten minutes and thirty-eight seconds of Leila’s last breaths. And has expertly divided her whole past and both her splendid and terrible experiences which shaped her life, within these few minutes and seconds. Shafak with her impressive story-telling power and eloquent style of writing, writes impacting and emotionally moving scenes. The way the words are weaved together to narrate each event, instills overwhelming feelings of grief, loss and accomplishment among the readers. The book also provides us with some of the most remarkable and memorable quotes, some of which are particularly heartwarming:
“Her mother had once told her that childhood was a big, blue wave that lifted you up, carried you forth and, just when you thought it would last forever, vanished from sight. You could neither run after it nor bring it back. But the wave, before it disappeared, left a gift behind – a conch shell on the shore. Inside the seashell were stored all the sounds of childhood.”
“The possibility of an immediate and wholesale decimation of civilization was not half as frightening as the simple realisation that our individual passing had no impact on the order of things, and life would go on just the same with or without us.”
Istanbul, 1990s
This novel explores major themes of loss, belongingness, identity and friendship. It also addresses social issues like human rights, individual identity, oppression, discrimination and struggles of the disempowered individuals, particularly women, in this rigid and intensely male dominated society. It makes us familiar with the orthodox views and culture which were a major part of 1990’s Istanbul and which were oppressive towards women. This book makes the readers question these uncomfortable and brutal truths of society but also uses the marvellous descriptions of human relations to uplift them.
This story of courage, resilience, survival, love and friendship makes for a fascinating contemporary novel. If one seeks to read an unconventional and emotionally evoking piece of literature with a lyrical prose of writing, 10 minutes and 38 seconds in This Strange World is worth a read.
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