10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-03-18 03:17:39
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Elif Shafak
- ISBN：B07N3663SF
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
An intensely powerful new novel from the best-selling author of The Bastard of Istanbul and Honour
'In the first minute following her death， Tequila Leila's consciousness began to ebb， slowly and steadily， like a tide receding from the shore。 Her brain cells， having run out of blood， were now completely deprived of oxygen。 But they did not shut down。 Not right away。。。'
For Leila， each minute after her death brings a sensuous memory: the taste of spiced goat stew， sacrificed by her father to celebrate the long-awaited birth of a son; the sight of bubbling vats of lemon and sugar which the women use to wax their legs while the men attend mosque; the scent of cardamom coffee that Leila shares with a handsome student in the brothel where she works。 Each memory， too， recalls the friends she made at each key moment in her life - friends who are now desperately trying to find her。 。 。
Reviews
Ciara H
，
Exceptional！Wow！So sad， so raw， so beautiful， so insightful， so compassionate， so understanding， so accepting。An introduction to social history in rural and urban Turkey。This covers the fall from grace of a young woman in the eyes of society followed by the development of true friendship of a most eclectic mix of social 'deviants'。The religious and the secular cross paths too。 This couldn't be omitted from a novel set in Turkey。I listened to half of this book on @Borrowbox from @dublincitylibrar Exceptional！Wow！So sad， so raw， so beautiful， so insightful， so compassionate， so understanding， so accepting。An introduction to social history in rural and urban Turkey。This covers the fall from grace of a young woman in the eyes of society followed by the development of true friendship of a most eclectic mix of social 'deviants'。The religious and the secular cross paths too。 This couldn't be omitted from a novel set in Turkey。I listened to half of this book on @Borrowbox from @dublincitylibraries but I read the latter half of the book as I couldn't get quiet time to listen。 I was too engrossed to wait it out！This is a beautiful book which lifts from the gutter the social outcasts of Turkish society。 It loosely casts the judgemental into secondary place and allows the natural compassion of individuals to come to the fore。The premise is heartbreaking， a murdered woman， working as a prostitute， sees her life in the ten minutes 38 seconds between her murder and the ceasing of her brain function。 For me， part two brings the whole book together beautifully。 With compassion。 With love。Rest in peace Tequila Leila。#Books#Booklover#Bookstagrammer 。。。more
Sara Green
，
I wasn’t sure at the beginning whether the story of a Istanbul prostitute would grab me， but it did fairly quickly。 I loved the way each minute brought up a new smell and taste， linked to a memory introducing another key moment in Leila’s life story。 And as the mind section of the book reached Leila’s last eight seconds I was really sad to lose her。 I was less struck by the body section， which at times swung a bit too far towards the farcical， but the soul section at the end rounded off the stor I wasn’t sure at the beginning whether the story of a Istanbul prostitute would grab me， but it did fairly quickly。 I loved the way each minute brought up a new smell and taste， linked to a memory introducing another key moment in Leila’s life story。 And as the mind section of the book reached Leila’s last eight seconds I was really sad to lose her。 I was less struck by the body section， which at times swung a bit too far towards the farcical， but the soul section at the end rounded off the story for everyone beautifully。 Tonight I am attending an online event with the author， and really look forward to finding out more about what the book meant to her。 。。。more
Patrick Wall
，
This book will stick with me for many years to come。 The characters are woefully relatable and the integration of cultural and historical backgrounds within such a poignant story of heartbreak and joy resulted in a read that I will not soon forget。 If you have a spare day or even a spare few hours， I urge you to read this book as I promise it will strike a chord in you that you were unaware was even there。
Julia
，
4 gwiazdki za ciągnącą się końcówkę， 5 za historię。
Muneeba Naeem
，
Elif Shafak's brilliance again jacketed。。Story of a girl with twisted motherly love and a villain family member， who flies away from her father's cage to get caught in a far more severe trap of prostitution。 Falls in love gets married and then death tore and unite the lovers。。 5 friends who are willing to die for her and are all themselves have complicated personalities。。Go for it。。 a well written and boldly penned novel。。 Elif Shafak's brilliance again jacketed。。Story of a girl with twisted motherly love and a villain family member， who flies away from her father's cage to get caught in a far more severe trap of prostitution。 Falls in love gets married and then death tore and unite the lovers。。 5 friends who are willing to die for her and are all themselves have complicated personalities。。Go for it。。 a well written and boldly penned novel。。 。。。more
Julie Boudreault
，
à venir。。
Stína
，
Elif Shafak deserves 10 stars for that book， she touches one‘s mind and soul in a way that I cannot describe。 She is a poet。
Beyza Güngören
，
Elif Şafak kitaplarını Aşk öncesi ve sonrası olarak ayırıyorum ben。 Aşk ve sonrasında her yazdığı kitapta inatla daha da sığlaşıyor yazdıkları。 Kendisinden edebi şahanelikler beklemiyorum zaten， yolda giderken sürükleyici bir roman okumaktı beklentim sadece。 Oryantalizmin sınırları zorlanmış， değinilebilecek her azınlık sorununa değinmiş fakat hiçbir karakter kurgusunun derinliği yazılmamış， basit bir kitap。 Fahişe， gay， cüce evet hepimiz aynıyız işte hümanistliği içimi kaldırdı。 Okurken yok art Elif Şafak kitaplarını Aşk öncesi ve sonrası olarak ayırıyorum ben。 Aşk ve sonrasında her yazdığı kitapta inatla daha da sığlaşıyor yazdıkları。 Kendisinden edebi şahanelikler beklemiyorum zaten， yolda giderken sürükleyici bir roman okumaktı beklentim sadece。 Oryantalizmin sınırları zorlanmış， değinilebilecek her azınlık sorununa değinmiş fakat hiçbir karakter kurgusunun derinliği yazılmamış， basit bir kitap。 Fahişe， gay， cüce evet hepimiz aynıyız işte hümanistliği içimi kaldırdı。 Okurken yok artık bu kadar da kötü olamaz dedim。 Her sayfada ülkede yaşanan ayrı bir sorun yazılıp geçilmiş adeta lisede olaydan özet çıkarma ödevi verilmiş gibi paragraflar。 Asla okunmaya değer bir kitap değil。 。。。more
Patrick Muhando
，
Amazing
Dina Hisham
，
اعجبت بها حقا رغم اني استغربت العالم الذي خلقته أليف في أول ١٠٠ صفحة لكن سرعان ما أستوعبته وأندمجت معه。 تعد الرواية هي تجربتي الثانية بعد رواية "بنات حواء الثلاث" وقد حوت الرواية الثانية شخصيات ذات عمق وهو ما يثير اعجابي في الشخصيات التي تخلقها أليف بشكل عام。 صراحة ادهشني كم الشخصيات والأفكار التي وضعتها وهو كم هائل صراحة。تعجبني أفكار تقبل أختلاف الآخر مهما كان غريبا وأتمني ان تساهم كتابات أليف بنشر هذا التقبل فنحن جميعا بحاجة إلية。أما عن الرواية فقد كان عالما غريبا بحق ومدهشا وجنونيا في بعض الأ اعجبت بها حقا رغم اني استغربت العالم الذي خلقته أليف في أول ١٠٠ صفحة لكن سرعان ما أستوعبته وأندمجت معه。 تعد الرواية هي تجربتي الثانية بعد رواية "بنات حواء الثلاث" وقد حوت الرواية الثانية شخصيات ذات عمق وهو ما يثير اعجابي في الشخصيات التي تخلقها أليف بشكل عام。 صراحة ادهشني كم الشخصيات والأفكار التي وضعتها وهو كم هائل صراحة。تعجبني أفكار تقبل أختلاف الآخر مهما كان غريبا وأتمني ان تساهم كتابات أليف بنشر هذا التقبل فنحن جميعا بحاجة إلية。أما عن الرواية فقد كان عالما غريبا بحق ومدهشا وجنونيا في بعض الأحيان لكني احببته وصدقته كتيرا وتعلقت به ولن أنكر حقيقة انني سأفتقده بحق وحتي لن أنكر بكائي وقتما فسر غموض موت ليلي التكيلا ومعرفة اقربائها ذلك رغم معرفتي المسبقة بأنها ميتة وما يحكي هو فقط ماضيها وذكرياتها التي كانت في عهد مضي واحببت اصدقائها احببت انهم اصدقاء بجانب بعضهم الاخر رغم كل الاختلاف الشاسع بين أفكار ومعتقدات كل شخصية منهم علي حدي وبرغم عيوبهم أحببتهم وتمنيت لو لدي اصدقاء يحبونني كما يحب ليلي اصدقائها المجنانين هؤلاء。 ما اجزمه الآن أنني ومنذ الرواية الأولي احببت عالم أليف وسأستمر في قرأتي لأعمالها السابقه التي لم اقرأها وفي انتظار اعمال قادمة。 。。。more
ajsinfajer
，
4。5 pierwsza czesc - zachwyt。 Shafak stworzyla cos absolutnie wyjatkowego opowiadajac historie zycia wyrywkami „z 10 minut i 30 sekund”。 tlem jest tutaj przepieknie wykreowany Stambul， przedstawiony jednoczesnie z persepktywy z zewnatrz jak i wewnatrz， przez co czytelnik dostaje wspanialy， roznobarwny obraz。 czesc druga， skupiajaca sie juz na piatce przyjaciol glownej bohaterki Leyli na pewno nie przekona wszystkich， ze wzgledu na specyficzny rodzaj abstrakcji， ktory w ich wypadku moze nie byc j 4。5 pierwsza czesc - zachwyt。 Shafak stworzyla cos absolutnie wyjatkowego opowiadajac historie zycia wyrywkami „z 10 minut i 30 sekund”。 tlem jest tutaj przepieknie wykreowany Stambul， przedstawiony jednoczesnie z persepktywy z zewnatrz jak i wewnatrz， przez co czytelnik dostaje wspanialy， roznobarwny obraz。 czesc druga， skupiajaca sie juz na piatce przyjaciol glownej bohaterki Leyli na pewno nie przekona wszystkich， ze wzgledu na specyficzny rodzaj abstrakcji， ktory w ich wypadku moze nie byc juz tak akceptowalny。 mnie przekonal， choc moim zdaniem zbyt mocno zdominowal pierwsza czesc historii。 。。。more
Sarah Beaudoin
，
What a perfectly exquisite book。
Elizabeth
，
A haunting and heartbreaking novel about unseen people in every day life。 The author brings beauty to the lives of amazing individuals who suffer indignities， ostracism， exclusion and rejection from a rigid society。 A beautiful novel that has kept me recalling it for months after I read it。 Highly recommend。
Elina
，
I loved the creative aspect of introducing characters through sporadic memory based on minutes leading up to brain inactivity post mortem。 I was not too thrilled in the second half of the book when friends join the narrative。。。it was unnecessarily too drawn out。 However， I loved Elif Shakar’s depiction of the grimy side of Istanbul， which I still find enchanting。
Meg
，
I enjoyed it despite the heavy subject matter， although it makes me want to go back to Istanbul！
Zainab Belal
，
الرواية مليانة وصف جميل ومشاعر تكسر القلبكلش حبيتها وحبيت الصداقة الي موجودة انو رغم اختلافات شخصياتهم جمعتهم رابطة قوية غير انو اكو تفاصيل ومعلومات كلش قوية ومؤثرة والكاتبة مراعية（ بكلامها ووصفها وتسميات الاشياء） الحقبة الزمنية الي دتحجي بيها。。عالعموم الرواية كلش كلش حلوة وتستحق القراءة❤️
Reema Fayez
，
Amazing
Monika
，
I will not lie， I chose this book because of the title。 I didn't except it to be such a preasure to read！ Well， it's one of the saddest book I ever read。 But also， it is amazing。 The story， heroes， the author's way of storytelling， Istambul are so。。。 Beautifull？ I am not sure I can find a right word to describe it。 But for sure I can say， the book is worth reading。 I will not lie， I chose this book because of the title。 I didn't except it to be such a preasure to read！ Well， it's one of the saddest book I ever read。 But also， it is amazing。 The story， heroes， the author's way of storytelling， Istambul are so。。。 Beautifull？ I am not sure I can find a right word to describe it。 But for sure I can say， the book is worth reading。 。。。more
Denny
，
Truly beautiful writing-style 。 I enjoyed the story， I liked the character and reall really loved the first part - The Mind。 However， if the author could put more details on， this book would be my all-time favourite。 4。25/5！
Peter Williams
，
Really good but perhaps just not for me。。。
Kendall Berdinsky
，
I think I would love this book regardless， but I read it a time that was especially prevalent to women。 This week has been tough， with the death of Sarah Everard reverberating throughout the world and hitting so many women close to home， including me。 This book is about Leila and the last 10 minutes of brain activity she has after being murdered。 Storytelling at its best， weaving the reader through flashbacks and backstories with ease。
Chris
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Well， 3。5 stars。 The big shift from part 1， with Leila’s last conscious moments expanding into a broad picture of Turkey’s major social problems; to part 2’s escapade in the cemetery， didn’t fit well for me。。。but the very end， as Leila’s soul enters universal harmony in the waters of the Bosphorus， I thought worked very well。 So maybe 3。75。
Maheen Mansoor
，
3。5。 Thought this was going to be a light and fun book🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
EME
，
I didn't expect anything as I never read the author's book before and didn't know if it was highly acclaimed one。 I just liked the title and thought "what does it mean"， the title made me to read it and I am glad that I did it。It's about a woman who is strong， kind， resilient who has gone through so many things in her life and her story with friends who love her so much。 There are many political issues in Turkey mentioned behind this story。 Some makes me sad and angry （specially the fact that fe I didn't expect anything as I never read the author's book before and didn't know if it was highly acclaimed one。 I just liked the title and thought "what does it mean"， the title made me to read it and I am glad that I did it。It's about a woman who is strong， kind， resilient who has gone through so many things in her life and her story with friends who love her so much。 There are many political issues in Turkey mentioned behind this story。 Some makes me sad and angry （specially the fact that female rights are easily neglected）。 This is not only the issue in Turkey but everywhere。Overall I enjoyed it。 。。。more
Bev Erickson
，
Interesting and different。
Kirsty Wayland
，
I found this incredibly readable and the language is amazing。 But for me the best described character is Istanbul itself。 I left the book desperate to visit but not really understanding what the 10 mins 38 secs was about。 The friends weren’t all equally well described and I found the timeline confusing。 Didn’t love it。
Matt Carton
，
My first literary trip to Turkey since Pamuk’s （awful） THE MUSEUM OF INNOCENCE a few years back。 Shafak is a tremendous writer。 10 SECONDS is a book about love， friendship， and grief。 Tequila Leila is a charismatic and beautifully drawn character。
Anna / merlinowa_reads
，
Leila nie żyje。 Jej ciało jest martwe i porzucone w śmietniku。 Ale jej mózg jeszcze pracuje przez tytułowe 10 minut i 38 sekund。 W tym czasie powracają do niej migawki wspomnień， różne skojarzenia związane z wydarzeniami z jej życia， z obrazami i zapachami。 Na bazie tych urywek wspomnień poznajemy Leilę i jej historię właściwie od samego momentu jej narodzin， przy czym sama opowieść nie kończy się wraz z jej śmiercią。 Historia nie mogłaby się skończyć w tym momencie… Od początku wiedziałam， jak Leila nie żyje。 Jej ciało jest martwe i porzucone w śmietniku。 Ale jej mózg jeszcze pracuje przez tytułowe 10 minut i 38 sekund。 W tym czasie powracają do niej migawki wspomnień， różne skojarzenia związane z wydarzeniami z jej życia， z obrazami i zapachami。 Na bazie tych urywek wspomnień poznajemy Leilę i jej historię właściwie od samego momentu jej narodzin， przy czym sama opowieść nie kończy się wraz z jej śmiercią。 Historia nie mogłaby się skończyć w tym momencie… Od początku wiedziałam， jak się zaczyna ta książka。 Znałam jej opis i przez to bałam się， że będzie mocno i konsekwentnie poruszała tematy metafizyczne oraz rozważania dotyczące śmierci i tego， co po niej， a to po prostu nie moja bajka。 Ale to nie taka opowieść。 Elif Shafak przedstawiła nam oryginalny i intrygujący koncept prowadzenia historii， a w zasadzie nawet wielu historii kilku żyć， które na pewnej drodze się ze sobą spotkały。 Leila w tym wszystkim jest pewnego rodzaju klejem czy spoiwem， który połączył ze sobą ludzi， którzy być może w zwyczajnych okolicznościach nigdy by się nie zaprzyjaźnili。 Poza tym wkraczamy w świetnie oddany klimat Stambułu， czytając czuje się ten gorąc tureckiego powietrza czy wszelkie zapachy; tutaj wyobraźnia naprawdę zostaje pobudzona。 Poza tym mamy wstawki dotyczące historii kraju， rewolucji czy społecznych i kulturowych zagadnień， które po prostu wchłaniamy。 Ten początek， a właściwie dobra połowa książki jest naprawdę urzekająca。 Powieść jest jednak trochę nierówna。 Na początku mocno pędzimy poprzez wspomnienia Leili， po to， by ostatecznie coraz bardziej zwalniać。 Wydaje mi się， że w okolicach trzy setnej strony siada trochę tempo tej opowieści。 Przynajmniej na jakiś czas， bo później， od momentu zapadnięcia jednej kluczowej decyzji na powrót sporo się dzieje i znów z zapartym tchem śledzimy wydarzenia， rozgrywające się w ostatnich stu pięćdziesięciu stronach。 Mimo to pewne rozdziały wydawały się zbyteczne; bardzo niewiele wnoszące do akcji czy do całości tworu （i NIE mam tutaj na myśli rozdziałów zatytułowanych „historia…” któregoś z piątku przyjaciół， bo te są naprawdę ciekawym i dobrym dopełnieniem całości）。 Natomiast takie obiektywne przerywniki sprawiały wrażenie wciśniętych na siłę w ramach… spojrzenia z offu？ Spokojnie mogłoby ich nie być – powieść byłaby krótsza i wcale by na tym nie ucierpiała。 Bo czasem miałam wrażenie， że autorka chce nam przekazać nawet najmniejszą， najdrobniejszą informację i czasami w tym całym przekazie to było już zbyt dużo。 Elif Shafak jest naprawdę wspaniała i niesamowicie inteligentna。 Jeszcze przed skończeniem książki obejrzałam chyba wszystkie wywiady z nią i wszelkie TedTalks。 To w jaki sposób się wysławia i operuje słowami jest hipnotyzujące。 I ten jej dar czuć w sposobie， w jaki kreuje i przedstawia historię Leili。 10 minut i 38 sekund… to poruszająca opowieść o sile przyjaźni， o niesprawiedliwości， o życiu w świecie， który nas nie rozumie。 。。。more
Daisy Oakes
，
I feel so mixed about this book！ Part one was rich， bold and moving。 We learn so much about Leila’s incredibly difficult childhood and journey through life in a world out to get her as a woman with odds stacked against her。 I loved her self-made family， the beautiful “five” who have each been through their own hell。 The portrayal of Istanbul is incredible， and we get a real sense of what it is to be a woman at that time， especially sex workers and trans women。 It feels raw and powerful。 Part two I feel so mixed about this book！ Part one was rich， bold and moving。 We learn so much about Leila’s incredibly difficult childhood and journey through life in a world out to get her as a woman with odds stacked against her。 I loved her self-made family， the beautiful “five” who have each been through their own hell。 The portrayal of Istanbul is incredible， and we get a real sense of what it is to be a woman at that time， especially sex workers and trans women。 It feels raw and powerful。 Part two let down the amazingly rich characters described in part one。 What was a once brave and emotive story suddenly became so unbelievable， and even the style of her writing changed to being unoriginal， obvious in parts and almost YA！ Such beautiful and rich characters who deserved a better ending than the slapstick comedy of errors that it led to。 Also， the “happy ending” / quick wrapping up in the prologue is so jarring and unrealistic to me。。。 。。。more
Nourhan Abou Agila
，