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    Book Review: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World by Elif Shafak

    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.


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021









    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir



    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.