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The Oracle of Stamboul

by Michael David Lukas (Goodreads Author)

3.51 of 5 stars 3.51 · rating details · 1,538 ratings · 547 reviews

An elegantly crafted, utterly enchanting debut novel set in a mystical, exotic world, in which a gifted young girl charms a sultan and changes the course of an empire's history

Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair o

...more

An elegantly crafted, utterly enchanting debut novel set in a mystical, exotic world, in which a gifted young girl charms a sultan and changes the course of an empire's history

Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair of Tartar midwives who arrive just minutes before her birth. "They had read the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last king had given on his deathwatch." But joy is mixed with tragedy, for Eleonora's mother dies soon after the birth.

Raised by her doting father, Yakob, a carpet merchant, and her stern, resentful stepmother, Ruxandra, Eleonora spends her early years daydreaming and doing housework—until the moment she teaches herself to read, and her father recognizes that she is an extraordinarily gifted child, a prodigy.

When Yakob sets off by boat for Stamboul on business, eight-year-old Eleonora, unable to bear the separation, stows away in one of his trunks. On the shores of the Bosporus, in the house of her father's business partner, Moncef Bey, a new life awaits. Books, backgammon, beautiful dresses and shoes, markets swarming with color and life—the imperial capital overflows with elegance, and mystery. For in the narrow streets of Stamboul—a city at the crossroads of the world—intrigue and gossip are currency, and people are not always what they seem. Eleonora's tutor, an American minister and educator, may be a spy. The kindly though elusive Moncef Bey has a past history of secret societies and political maneuvering. And what is to be made of the eccentric, charming Sultan Abdulhamid II himself, beleaguered by friend and foe alike as his unwieldy, multiethnic empire crumbles?

The Oracle of Stamboul is a marvelously evocative, magical historical novel that will transport readers to another time and place—romantic, exotic, yet remarkably similar to our own.

(less)

Hardcover, 304 pages

Published February 8th 2011 by Harper (first published 2011)

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Mar 10, 2011 Hira rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: first-reads

"The Oracle of Stamboul" by Michael David Lukas is not just a novel, it is a literary portal that transports you to the streets of Turkey in the late 1800's. And while you are there, Michael David Lukas takes you on a magical journey - with his beautiful prose, he builds the city around you, surrounds you with the smell of its spices, and the warmth of its people. It is this particular quality in Lukas' writing that really gives this novel its edge.

Eleanora Cohen is born to Yakob Cohen on a tra...more "The Oracle of Stamboul" by Michael David Lukas is not just a novel, it is a literary portal that transports you to the streets of Turkey in the late 1800's. And while you are there, Michael David Lukas takes you on a magical journey - with his beautiful prose, he builds the city around you, surrounds you with the smell of its spices, and the warmth of its people. It is this particular quality in Lukas' writing that really gives this novel its edge.

Eleanora Cohen is born to Yakob Cohen on a tragic day in Constanta. The Ottoman Empire is coming an end, and two ladies who assist her birth claim that her birth was predicted by the last Tartar king, and that they had followed the signs to their home. Losing her mother on her birthday, little Ellie is raised by her loving and devoted father, and her cold and disciplinarian aunt, who ends up marrying her father. As Ellie grows, it is apparent to anyone that crosses paths with her, that she is an exceptional child - in a way that is beyond their comprehension. And it is due to her nature, that she is kept at bay from the world.

But when Ellie's father leaves for Stamboul on business, Ellie cannot stand to live in her house with her frigid aunt, and escapes in one of his carpet trunks, and finds herself on board the same streamer as her father as a stowaway. It is in Stamboul that Ellie truly flourishes, and finds herself immersed in a world of knowledge and literature. She learns to speak various languages, memorizes passages from books by heart with much ease, and breaks ciphers and codes with even more ease. It is due to talents such as this, and her pack of hoopoes, along with the prophecies that surround her birth that bring her to the attention of the then king, Sultan Abdulhamid II. Upon meeting little Ellie, the Sultan is immediately impressed by her knowledge and mannerisms, and despite oppositions from his Vizier and his own mother, he heeds her advice. It is due to her advice that he breaks ties with Germany, and the Kaiser. Unfortunately, for Ellie, these turn of events come under scrutiny by an American reporter, and Ellie is soon more famous than she cares to be. Will Ellie be able to handle the pressure that being an Oracle brings her? Will she become the Sultan's advisor in court? Or will she become a beloved Oracle to all of the world?

Michael David Lukas' "The Oracle of Stamboul" is an enchanting and fascinating read, full of magical realism and written in lilting prose, this book impresses from the first chapter to its last. Also, for those who may not be sure about its significance, hidden under the layers of beauty, fantasy and magic is a bit of truly magnificent history - a turn of events which, had they not come to pass, could very well have resulted in an entirely different world today. Eleanora, although a child, will astound you with her curiosity, maturity and humility and "The Oracle of Stamboul" will cocoon you into its world, and leave you breathless with the many beautiful views of Turkey. (less)

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Feb 17, 2011 Liviu rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011_release_read, review_fbc, mainstream, read_2011, t2_recommended_2011

A magical novel, short but fulfilling; great atmosphere and prose, it just took over my reading from the moment I opened it. I will add the full FBc reviews soon, but so far I would say that the blurb is reasonably accurate but it cannot convey the beautiful writing and magical recreation of a world long gone that the novel manages in a reasonably historical accurate way with hints of the fantastic, though still staying within the possible

As promised FBC Rv below:

INTRODUCTION: The Oracle of Stam...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Laura C. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I think perhaps that Michael David Luka, the author of “The Oracle of Stamboul” might be the king of the simile. For example: “Hoopoes covered the town like frosting, piped in along the rain gutters of the governor’s mansion and slathered on the gilt dome of the Orthodox church.” Or “ At one point, in what might have been a dream, a deer glanced past her window, its eyes reflecting some hidden luminosity like a string of lighthouses multiplied along the shore. Or “The morning pressed its face to...more

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Apr 13, 2011 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, world-lit-middle-east

Can I just say how much I love the feel of this book? I usually get library copies of books, which means they have those weird plasticy hardcovers. But paperbacks are more my style and this one just felt so nice (the pages are raggedy like old-school books and the cover is textured). It’s so pretty (of course I proceeded to spill on it about three times so it’s not nearly so pretty anymore). It was just a joy to hold in my hands. Does that sound weird? This is why I will never accept e-readers a...more Can I just say how much I love the feel of this book? I usually get library copies of books, which means they have those weird plasticy hardcovers. But paperbacks are more my style and this one just felt so nice (the pages are raggedy like old-school books and the cover is textured). It’s so pretty (of course I proceeded to spill on it about three times so it’s not nearly so pretty anymore). It was just a joy to hold in my hands. Does that sound weird? This is why I will never accept e-readers as the future. As a supplement, yes. As a replacement? NEVER! (and I'm saying this as I'm about to buy a Kindle for myself, because I'm going to spend several months next year in a foreign country and need easy access to English-language books and don't want to haul them all home/try to give them away when I return AGAIN; so, yes, I do understand that e-readers can be really great in some instances).

Okay, end diatribe. Now onto the book itself. I'm usually not a fan of slice-of-life books. I generally find descriptions tedious and end up trying to skim my way to action and/or romance, or at the very least dialogue. This being, really, a slice-of-life book (albeit with a magical realism overlay), I should've been bored. But I never was. I thought Lukas' descriptions of Istanbul were lovely and I loved that glimpse-into-the-past feeling that I get out of good historical fiction (despite the magical realism, I view it as historical fiction).

Child prodigy Eleonora Cohen is meant for great things. The portents foretell it. Unfortunately, these great things do not include having awesome magic powers. They do include being clever and well-read. In fact, being so clever that she comes to the attention of the Sultan and gains the reputation for being an oracle (not that she can foresee the future, she just gives really great advice). There's also some spying and political intriguing going on, but mostly it's about life in Istanbul and how this one little girl is quietly special and the Sultan has an overbearing mama and a warmonger advisor and, really, the little girl gives much better advice.

This is a good book for a lazy summer day. It's as languid as the Bosphorus (I'm makings this up; I don't know how languid the Bosphorus is, but it seemed pretty slow-moving when I was there). It's a pleasant, enjoyable read. Never boring, just leisurely.

Disclosure: I got this through GoodRead's First Reads.(less)

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Feb 19, 2011 Cheryl/Aradanryl rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cheryl/Aradanryl by: First Reads

Shelves: main-character-jew, main-character-young-girl, main-character-muslim, istanbul, mystical, setting-instanbul, favorites, review-bn, fiction, 1900s, turkey-nation, middle-east, setting-middle-east

It is marvelous when
a book transports me to a different time and place with people I want to spend time with,
I turn the final page satisfied but yet long for more, and
I immediately want to share the experience with a friend.

The book is wonderful, the story enchanting, and I'm convinced this book is a winner. It is one that I personally will provide copies to our public and the school libraries.

But this time, I'd like to share a bit more. Although I normally don't post about the phy...more

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Apr 20, 2011 saferia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I was quite excited to read this novel about Turkey (especially after hearing an interview with the author on NPR) and anticipated losing myself in the magic of Eleonora's adventures. Instead, I was large;y struck by huge bricks of wordiness and insignificant (read: unnecessarily) characters. Every time the story started to pick up pace and get more interesting, poor word choose or a dry situation would kill the moment.

A few things were unclear to me, including Eleonora's native tongue. I couldn...more

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Mar 14, 2013 Mal Warwick rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sheer Reading Pleasure

If you enjoy reading for its unique possibilities — mellifluous language, vivid imagery, immersion in places and circumstances you might never experience — then you’ll love this book. From the very first page, The Oracle of Stamboul will draw you relentlessly into the world of the Ottoman Empire in its twilight years of the 1880s. You’ll meet an extraordinary child, Eleanora Cohen, and you’ll be present with her from the violence of her birth in Rumania through her ninth y...more Sheer Reading Pleasure

If you enjoy reading for its unique possibilities — mellifluous language, vivid imagery, immersion in places and circumstances you might never experience — then you’ll love this book. From the very first page, The Oracle of Stamboul will draw you relentlessly into the world of the Ottoman Empire in its twilight years of the 1880s. You’ll meet an extraordinary child, Eleanora Cohen, and you’ll be present with her from the violence of her birth in Rumania through her ninth year in Istanbul (then Stamboul) as the unlikeliest of advisers to the Sultan. You’ll revel in the sights and sounds and smells of this fabled imperial capital of two million souls, and you’ll gain a front-row seat on the plotting and scheming in the palace and among the timid revolutionaries who only wish that something, perhaps anything, might change. This book is a marvel of the writer’s craft.

For example, consider this scene-setting passage:

“Summer slipped into Stamboul under the cover of a midday shower. It took up residence near the foundations of the Galata Bridge and drifted through the city like a stray dog. Ducking in and out of alleyways, the new season made itself felt in the tenacity of fruit flies buzzing about a pyramid of figs, in the increasingly confident tone of the muezzin, and the growing petulance of the shopkeepers in the produce market.”

And that’s just the beginning of the paragraph.

The nine-year arc of this richly detailed story begins in the Rumanian town of Constanta, with the death of Eleanora’s mother just minutes after her own birth. You’ll follow Eleanora and her father through through her early years as she demonstrates the extraordinary powers of her young mind, learning new languages in hours as though by magic and devouring the Greek and Roman classics in the original. You’ll follow her father, Yakov, on his journey to Stamboul to sell the most valuable of his stock of carpets, with Eleanora stowed away on the ship that carries him to the imperial capital.

I have nothing but good things to say about this outstanding first novel — except for the ending, which I found abrupt and disappointing. It struck me almost as though the book’s young author couldn’t figure out how to resolve his tale and simply dropped it in the middle.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Lloyd Russell rated it 5 of 5 stars

THE ROOKIE DELIVERS THE GOODS
So, a couple of Tuesday afternoons ago I headed over to Barnes & Noble in The Pruneyard. Since Tuesday is when the new books hit the bookstores (and ereaders), I like to go in and check out what's new. Even though I'm on quite a few author email lists, I will oftentimes find a surprise or two. Lo and behold, at a table right near the front door, is a young man sitting with stacks of hardcovers and paperbacks. He looks like he's still in college, but he is an auth...more THE ROOKIE DELIVERS THE GOODS
So, a couple of Tuesday afternoons ago I headed over to Barnes & Noble in The Pruneyard. Since Tuesday is when the new books hit the bookstores (and ereaders), I like to go in and check out what's new. Even though I'm on quite a few author email lists, I will oftentimes find a surprise or two. Lo and behold, at a table right near the front door, is a young man sitting with stacks of hardcovers and paperbacks. He looks like he's still in college, but he is an author. As many of you know, I make it a practice to buy books from authors I run into at bookstores. It is also my practice to introduce myself to them, give them a Booksage card (you should see the joy in their faces!), and promise to read and blog about the book. I have read a number of books that I would have never read because of this practice: female teen fantasy, paranormal, Amish lit, and erotic romance. This latest book, The Oracle of Stamboul, by Michael David Lukas, is, once again, a book that I wouldn't think to pick up and read. Boy am I glad I did.

The storyline is unique. Eleonora Cohen is born to a Jewish carpet merchant in a small town on the Black Sea in 1877. It is very clear early on that she is a prodigy. When she is 8, circumstances dictate that she and her father make a visit to a Istambul, where she comes to the attention of the sultan, who is the supreme leader of the Ottoman Empire. Does this sound like a book that you would be interested in reading? Maybe not. But unless you're committed to reading only mysteries, do not dismiss this book because of its premise. This is a beautifully written book. In fact, when I create my 4th edition of Fiction for the Non-Fiction Reader, this might have to be on it. I absolutely loved it. It's magic.

I'm going to do something now that I have never done in my blog. I'm going to quote 3 passages that show how incredibly effective Michael is in his analogies. The book is filled with them, but I'm pulling out 3. I could have included several dozen. Look how vividly he paints a picture:

"Mrs. Damakan pronounced her name with care, as if it were an inscription etched into the back of an amulet."

"She had expected it to be locked, but it gave easily, and there, like a nest of birds hidden at the back of a clerestory, was a stack of letters tied neatly with a string."

And, referring to a flock of birds, "A swath of purple against a bright orange sky, it contracted, then expanded, like an ethereal lung."

Now, never mind that I don't know what the heck a clerestory is, this is some excellent writing. Every time I saw the word "like," I got excited because I knew another analogy was coming up. In my dotage, I'm beginning to like books that are unusual, well-written, and not typically mainstream. Who knew?

Michael's background in his young life is almost as interesting as the book. He was a Fulbright scholar in Turkey, a proofreader in Tel Aviv, and a rotary scholar in Tunisia. Now, he's an author living in Oakland, only a couple of miles from where I grew up. Oftentimes serendipity comes along. I feel that this is what happened to me on that Tuesday. I can't imagine not having read this book, and I'm excited for when his next one comes out. It may be a couple of years away, but I know that I'll be among the first in line to buy it.(less)

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Jan 04, 2013 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a beautifully written book, but it left me feeling like the story was yet to be told. Just when Eleonora Cohen becomes known as 'the oracle of Stamboul' she disappears into the world and no one knows where. When Eleonora was born in 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes appears in her town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and when her mother dies after the birth, the birds continue to stay with Eleonora through her life wherever she goes. The birds were a sign that was part of a prophe...more

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Dec 05, 2011 Janusz rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: turkey

I'll admit that the only reason I picked up this book was because it was set in Istanbul, and I'll always cherish and seek to recapture my time in that city in any way possible. Lukas certainly has an artist's touch when it comes to describing the sights, sounds and people of the city; he made me nostalgic for my time spent there.
It took me a while to appreciate his writing style and sense of time; for much of the book, I wished the action would progress faster, the conflicts arrive and be con...more I'll admit that the only reason I picked up this book was because it was set in Istanbul, and I'll always cherish and seek to recapture my time in that city in any way possible. Lukas certainly has an artist's touch when it comes to describing the sights, sounds and people of the city; he made me nostalgic for my time spent there.
It took me a while to appreciate his writing style and sense of time; for much of the book, I wished the action would progress faster, the conflicts arrive and be concluded more swiftly. Upon reflection, I feel that Lukas' prose fits both his genre and setting. Istanbul is a city that is both unbelievably frenetic and seductively languid at the same time, and Lukas captures that part of its soul well. The strength of this work lies in its ability to capture the essence of its setting, and his skill in doing so is undeniable.
That said, I found it difficult to empathize with the protagonist of the book. Granted, Eleonora is a polyglot savant whose talents would be hard indeed to even approximate. Perhaps I am meant to suspend my disbelief at her uniqueness and accept her abilities at face value; however, I felt that they robbed the book of conflict. Becoming embroiled in palace intrigue I can accept, decoding secret messages I can rationalize if the child Eleonora is indeed a genius. Indeed, I find it easier to acceptt that a nine year old is capable of the logical deductions of the sort that comprise code-breaking than I am to believe that she can grasp and interpret Great Power politics and advise a sultan as to the manner in which he should rule his empire. I found the relationship between Eleonora and Sultan Abdulhamid to be one-dimensional and shallow; the reasoning that the sultan was starved for genuine attention and affection was unconvincing. Eleonora decides, once it seems that she may be able to offer genuine aid to the Sultan, to sneak away in the night to live her life peacefully elsewhere as a commoner. This ending was abrupt and jarring in comparison to the subtle tension that characterizes the rest of the novel. Lastly, her decision to become mute and uncommunicative, while certainly understandable as a result of traumatic incidences, makes it harder to empathize with her as a character, and quite frankly, seems to be a cop-out on the part of the author. I'm sure there are quite a few ways in which a genius child can be introduced to conflict and obstacles; causing her to enter semi-catatonia does not constitute the best choice that could be made.
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Nov 25, 2011 Sally G. rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

I think I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. While it was well written, and descriptions of the location and depictions of the history were as I'd hoped ~ I felt a little dissatisfied with the direction it sometimes took. I'd like to have gone deeper in areas the author didn't ~ and could have used less 'words' in other areas where the author spent more time.

This is a fictional account of a little girl named Eleanora Cohen - later to be known as The Oracle of Stamboul. As a resul...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Tony rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-mainstream

THE ORACLE OF STAMBOUL. (2011). Michael David Lukas. ****.
Reading this first novel reminds one of Scherazade or the Thousand and One Nights. It has a degree of the mysticism and philosophy of the East and a cast of characters mostly strange to the reader. It is the story of a young girl, Eleanor Cohen, who, at the time of the story is eight-years old. Her mother died delivering her at childbirth, but the birth was surrounded by a bunch of mystical omens – all of which pointed to the fact that s...more

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Sep 20, 2011 Patty rated it 5 of 5 stars

In this magical tale you will meet Eleonora, born on a night of violence in the presence of two Tartar midwives. A mysterious flock of hoopoes in an unusual coloring arrive and roost in the tree outside of her house. The flock follows her everywhere. As she grows she proves to be exceptionally intelligent and is considered a savant. But that is dangerous in the small town where she lives. She also feels constrained by her stepmother/aunt - she wants to see more of the world so when her father is...more

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Sep 06, 2011 Jaime Boler rated it 4 of 5 stars

Not since Pi Patel in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi has this reviewer found a more engaging, adventurous child as Eleanora Cohen in Michael David Lukas’ The Oracle of Stamboul. Wherever Eleanora goes, a flock of birds, purple-and-white hoopoes, follows, even presiding over her 1877 birth in Constanta, a town on the Black Sea. Two Tartar midwives, who assist in the delivery, said signs led them to the girl. She is, the mysterious women, claim, part of a prophecy: “They had read all the signs, they sai...more Not since Pi Patel in Yann Martel’s Life of Pi has this reviewer found a more engaging, adventurous child as Eleanora Cohen in Michael David Lukas’ The Oracle of Stamboul. Wherever Eleanora goes, a flock of birds, purple-and-white hoopoes, follows, even presiding over her 1877 birth in Constanta, a town on the Black Sea. Two Tartar midwives, who assist in the delivery, said signs led them to the girl. She is, the mysterious women, claim, part of a prophecy: “They had read all the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last king had given on his deathbed” (3).

Leah Cohen does not survive her daughter’s birth. Yakob Cohen, a carpet salesman, appeals to his sister-in-law Ruxandra for help raising Eleanora, and they marry. Although Ruxandra is not a wicked stepmother, she is not loving, kind, or understanding either. Eleanora shows signs of great intellectual promise at a young age, yet women were supposed to marry, have children, and keep house. Ruxandra sees that Eleanora is special, like her own sister, and jealousy causes her to keep Eleanora away from a classical education and pushes her toward household chores instead. This makes Eleanora miserable.

When her father announces that he is going on business to Stamboul, Eleanora stows away on his ship. Mr. Cohen, angry at first, soon relents and yields. His daughter can stay the month with him; together, father and daughter enjoy the sights and sounds of exotic Stamboul. Terrible tragedy strikes, however, and Eleanora is left in the care of Moncef Bey, her father’s business partner. It is here that the novel lags. Eleanora refuses to speak, communicating with others only through written messages. Readers at this crucial juncture in the novel are so taken with Eleanora that they crave her voice and are more than ready when she does finally decide to speak again.

The novel picks back up with a whirlwind pace as Eleanora’s tutor may or may not be a spy. Indeed, many in Lukas’ novel are not what they seem, even Moncef Bey who we learn has a secret history of his own. But it is Eleanora with her remarkable intellect and sharp wit that is the focus. One character almost as fascinating as Eleanora is the Turkish sultan Abdul Hamid II (1842-1918) who was deposed by the Young Turks in 1908.

Is Eleanora the one who fulfills the prophecy? As she solves puzzles and speaks in tongues, under the watchful eyes of her flock, readers will wonder. This book has it all: magic, palace intrigue, prophecy, and riddles. Yet, through it all, Lukas still manages to keep it real. At the heart of this remarkable debut is an eight-year-old girl who is uncertain and afraid. Faced with two choices, Eleanora eschews them both and carves out her own future, free of birds and perhaps free of oracles. Readers will love Eleanora Cohen and take her into their hearts.(less)

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Jun 15, 2011 Debbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

It was the beginning of the end for the Great Ottoman Empire. There were the obvious signs of civil unrest and international conflicts and there were more subtle signs in clandestine meetings and passed information. And it was during these troubling times when Elenora Cohen made her way into the world, it was on a Thursday while troops gathered on a hill and a flock of Hoopoes flitted about. It was not without tragedy that she did so as her mother died giving birth to her. She was attended to by...more It was the beginning of the end for the Great Ottoman Empire. There were the obvious signs of civil unrest and international conflicts and there were more subtle signs in clandestine meetings and passed information. And it was during these troubling times when Elenora Cohen made her way into the world, it was on a Thursday while troops gathered on a hill and a flock of Hoopoes flitted about. It was not without tragedy that she did so as her mother died giving birth to her. She was attended to by her devoted father Yakob and her mother’s midwives until the arrival of her mother’s older unwed sister who would go on to become not only her aunt but her stepmother as well. Elenora had a relatively normal childhood and yet it soon became apparent that she was not a normal little girl as she possessed an uncommon intelligence and sponge like intellect and a somewhat mystical nature as well. This somewhat magical, mystical and enchanted little girl starts the journey of her life under a troubling star that will take her to the seat of the Empire and to it’s leader as well. But what will come of her, will she go on to great things and shine like the sun or will she go down like a burning nova. Open the pages of this multidimensional and eclectic read and find out.
Michael David Lukas brings us his debut novel with a plot that’s as diverse as the Ottoman Empire was at the end of the Nineteenth Century when his tale takes place with a story line ranging from politics to mysticism. He brings us this with a dialogue that combines prose, everyday narrative and at times militaristic jargon which mostly has a fluent feel to it. I did however find the fluency chopped up a bit at times by a bit of wordiness and although this happens it did not diminish my enjoyment of the read. His characters are the stars and they do shine from the stuffy Ruxandra, to the loving Yakob to the patient Moncef Bey and finally the Sultan himself and his mother, and Mr. Lukas takes his time with each of these characters so we readers get their full effect.
This read is not for everyone, but if you enjoy a real piece of literary fiction with enough history to satisfy the student, enough imagery to satisfy the dreamer, and enough occult to satisfy the mystic then you will love this.
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Jun 14, 2011 Amy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, indie-next-list, magical-realism, 2011-favorites, middle-east

Quite simply, I adored this book. I suspect it will be one of my favorite reads of 2011.

This is from the dust jacket, and is a most apt description: “The Oracle of Stamboul is a marvelously evocative, magical historical novel that will transport readers to another time and place—romantic, exotic, yet remarkably similar to our own.”

Our protagonist is Eleanora Cohen, a young Romanian Jew born in Constanta in 1877. She is born under several auspicious signs, leading the midwives attending her birth...more

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Jun 14, 2011 Julia Reed rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Oracle of Stamboul, like The Mistress of Nothing, is a historical fiction novel set in the late 19th century. Unlike the Mistress of Nothing, the Oracle of Stamboul was actually a well-crafted story, where the actions of the characters made consistent sense throughout.

This is a great book if you're looking for something atmospheric, with plenty of political intrigue and historical detail. The author has spent a lot of time in the Middle East, particularly in Turkey, and his experiences and...more

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May 28, 2011 Corinne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Elenora is not just a bright child. Born in a town on the outskirts of the greatly diminished Ottoman Empire, she's got an adult sense of gravity that only increases as she learns and grows. When she ends up in the ancient river port city of Stamboul, the eight year old Eleanor finds herself in the thick of political happenings that will change both the course of her life and the reign of His Excellency, the Sultan.

This is a lovely piece of historical fiction. Told mostly through the eyes of a c...more

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May 28, 2011 Shay rated it 2 of 5 stars

Barring some kind of miracle, this looks like it's shaping up to be a 2 star book. This is normally the kind of book that I gradually stop reading. You know, you read a few pages and find you can't concentrate on what's going on because it's not holding your interest. So, you set it aside for a while. Then, you pick it up, same thing- read a few pages and put it down. Gradually, it becomes a few days, then a week until you pick it up and it eventually gets forgotten and buried under Mount TBR. S...more

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May 03, 2011 Michael added it

A very pretty book. Late 1800's. Eleonora is born in Romania and proves early on to possess a precocious and brilliant mind. She learns to read at 7, stows away on a ship to flee a life of ironing and sweeping, and ends up in the ancient city of Stamboul, or Instanbul, center of the crumbling Ottoman Empire. From there the story gets progressively larger. (I have to go and check this place out. I've been reading about it so long. I guess it must be kind of trashed now after all these years of be...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Jill Furedy rated it 4 of 5 stars

For some reason, I immediately compared this book to the Flavia De Luce books by Alan Bradley, though I only read the first of that series. I guess it was the young girl, wise beyond her years. Everyone spoke positively about the Bradley books and I was so-so about them, not too fond of Flavia. But I immediately connected with Eleonora and read through the story quickly. Most of the way through I loved this book, but then I suddenly recalled the title and thought...wait, where does the oracle pa...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Joanna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2011, historical-fiction

The Oracle of Stamboul is a gorgeously written book. It brings the old city of Stamboul to life in a vivid and breathtaking way, down to the scents in the air and the patterns of the carpets. Unfortunately, despite the lushly rendered setting, this is one of those novels in which not much happens.

Perhaps that is not a fair criticism of a book wherein a child is born amidst signs and portents, discovers that she has mental abilities beyond her years, runs away from home in a steamer trunk, buries...more

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Mar 10, 2011 Jeannie Mancini rated it 2 of 5 stars

Disappointing Debut

In the year 1877, Eleonora Cohen was ushered into the magnificent and opulent world of the Ottoman Empire to the smell of witch hazel, the sound of thunderous hoof-beats from Russian invaders, the flapping of wings from flocks of mysterious birds, and to the bright flashes of lightening striking. The Tartar midwives holding her up to the sky said she was the long awaited Oracle from a prophecy dictated long ago a by a king upon his deathbed. He foretold there would be a baby g...more Disappointing Debut

In the year 1877, Eleonora Cohen was ushered into the magnificent and opulent world of the Ottoman Empire to the smell of witch hazel, the sound of thunderous hoof-beats from Russian invaders, the flapping of wings from flocks of mysterious birds, and to the bright flashes of lightening striking. The Tartar midwives holding her up to the sky said she was the long awaited Oracle from a prophecy dictated long ago a by a king upon his deathbed. He foretold there would be a baby girl born when a certain alignment of moon and stars occurred amidst a sea of horses, and a when a conference of black and yellow birds darkened the sky.

Raised by her father, as her mother died in childbirth, it is soon learned that at the age of 6, something was special about Eleonora. She read voraciously, could perform complicated math sums, read Latin and 6 other languages, provide discourse on the ancient philosophers, decipher codes and puzzles, and memorize long passages of difficult books. With a child savant to raise, her father was protective and unsure of what the future could bring to one so innocent and yet a dangerous Pandora’s box. When Eleonora’s father plans a business trip to Istanbul, then called Stamboul, Eleonora stows on board as a runaway as to not be left behind with her unsavory stepmother. Shocked but not surprised, Eleonora’s father vows to take advantage of the situation and allows his daughter to learn and enjoy the culture of Turkey where she can embrace the life of a young scholar rather than have her mind hindered by the stifling domestic atmosphere she was used to.

Soon after their arrival, tragedy strikes again and Eleonora’s father dies in a tragic boating accident that suspiciously is thought to be an incident of political sabotage. From the moment of his death, Eleonora chooses not to speak, but communicates through writing. She is well taken care by her guardian, her father’s longtime friend who is being watched carefully by the present Sultan for possible treason. Eleonora happily takes residence with him, living the life of a little princess in a lovely Turkish Palace. When word gets out to the Sultan that she is the Oracle, he invites Eleonora to the Topkapi palace in hopes of using her to advise him on current social, political and international issues of intrigue. Eleonora becomes caught up in a world of war games and military tactics as she plays the pawn to the Sultan’s future chessboard strategies regarding his current conflict with Russia.

Although Lukas’ writing is quite beautiful and poetic, I can’t recommend this new debut too highly. I loved the idea of the Oracle of Stamboul, and I love the character of Eleonora. But, it seems the author had a great idea and simply didn’t know how to weave a plot around it. By midpoint I was bored out of my mind, the story meanders at a snail’s pace with no action, no drama, no romance, no mystery….no nothing. There is a hint of magic realism that was an ingenious little creation that went nowhere, the purpose of her being the long awaited Oracle remains to be revealed, and Eleonora herself simply has no personality to speak of. I kept thinking there had to be worthy ending to all of this drivel to make it worth the time, and was terribly disappointed by the time the last page turned. I felt the ending was rather a cop-out revealing that the author just didn’t know how to finish the story in a satisfactory manner. There really wasn’t and ending any more than there was a purpose in my opinion. I’m sorry, although I see the author having future potential due to the fact his writing style can be lovely, I think he has a way to go yet before he becomes polished and noteworthy. The Oracle of Stamboul was so close to being a gem, but just needed more panache, a little focus, and a riveting plot to make it stand out.
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Mar 07, 2011 Chandler rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a delicious book--one of those books I stay up till the wee hours of the morning reading. Eleonora is exceptional. Born to fulfill a prophecy, a brilliant savant and young girl who faces odds yet has the spunk to do what she wants, Eleonara lives to meet her destiny. Does she actually meet that destiny? Does she fulfill the words of the prophecies?

"The Oracle of Stamboul" brings to life a crucial time in the life of Instanbul. It encompasses the ending of the Ottoman empire, the relaxati...more

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Mar 07, 2011 CoffeeBook Chick rated it 5 of 5 stars

When a flock of hoopoe birds arrive at the time a young girl is born, midwives descend upon a home to usher in the birth of a child born under these prophesied events. The mother dies after childbirth and Eleonora, a gifted child, grows up with her attentive father and strict stepmother. When her father has to sail to Stamboul (Istanbul) on business, eight-year-old Eleonora becomes a stowaway on the boat to escape the overbearing stepmother who believes Eleonora should only focus on housework in...more When a flock of hoopoe birds arrive at the time a young girl is born, midwives descend upon a home to usher in the birth of a child born under these prophesied events. The mother dies after childbirth and Eleonora, a gifted child, grows up with her attentive father and strict stepmother. When her father has to sail to Stamboul (Istanbul) on business, eight-year-old Eleonora becomes a stowaway on the boat to escape the overbearing stepmother who believes Eleonora should only focus on housework instead of books. Upon arriving in Stamboul, she is welcomed into the home of her father's business partner, and her life expands. Surrounded by the tools of knowledge, her intellectual genius flourishes, one in which this eight-year-old girl speaks multiple languages, can write passages verbatim from Virgil's The Aeneid, and breaks code with the ease of an expert. Soon, her interaction with the Sultan grows into an advisory capacity, and the future of Stamboul is affected. Could she fulfill the prophecy?

Mastering the brilliance of historical fiction and vivid imagery, Michael David Lukas has crafted an elegant debut novel set in Stamboul, and I was absolutely drawn in from the first page. With rich and vibrant colors combined with the grittiness of life in the late 1800s in Turkey, and with just a dash of magical realism, the book resonates with the flourish of beautiful imagery. Each character is intense and genuine, and it's clear that research has been carefully documented. I had an incredibly difficult time putting this book down once I was caught up in the new life of a little eight-year-old girl (who is essentially a savant) and with the fluidity of the events and descriptions of her experiences and most especially, her abilities. I have a sneaking suspicion that there might be a follow-up to this book (this just may be, though, since I enjoyed this book so much, more of my own wish to travel back and escape into Eleonora's world again). This debut author has prepared readers for a long career and I anticipate more of his work!

One of my favorite passages:
In its time, the sun rose unsteady from a distant corner of the sky, and with it the fog lifted. Already the Bosporus was teeming, packed with fishing boats, caïques, and the occasional lumbering steamer. On the shore, under the shades of cypress trees, miniature people hawked and haggled, bustled, bargained, and prayed. Three gargantuan turtle-domed mosques glinted in the rising sun, their minarets piercing the sky like bayonets, and there, at the confluence of waters, was the most glorious building Eleonora had ever seen. Gardens upon gardens, arches, balustrades, and clerestories ringed by a gleaming white marble wall and watched over by a regiment of glass towers, Topkapi Palace, the residence of His Excellency Sultan Abdulhamid II, sat perched on the rim of the Golden Horn, a testament to inconceivable wealth. (Chapter Seven)

It's pretty safe to say that I loved this book...(less)

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Feb 11, 2011 Cassandra rated it 4 of 5 stars

Most 8 year old girls are uninteresting. Eleanora Cohen may seem to be just such a girl to the casual observer. That is, if they fail to pay attention to the mysterious flock of purple hoopoes that has watched over her from birth or the fact that those birds were part of the prophecy that led two Tartar midwifes to her family's door just as her mother was ready to give birth. It quickly becomes apparent, though, to her family that she is in some way extraordinary. It is evidenced in how she is a...more Most 8 year old girls are uninteresting. Eleanora Cohen may seem to be just such a girl to the casual observer. That is, if they fail to pay attention to the mysterious flock of purple hoopoes that has watched over her from birth or the fact that those birds were part of the prophecy that led two Tartar midwifes to her family's door just as her mother was ready to give birth. It quickly becomes apparent, though, to her family that she is in some way extraordinary. It is evidenced in how she is able to master reading in such a short time, the way she keeps track of figures in her head, and the novels that she pulls down from the shelf to keep her company as she reads after her dinner.

Lukas tells the story of Eleanora and how she becomes the "Oracle of Stamboul." The first part of the book, describing her childhood and how she arrives in Stamboul moves at a nice pace. It begins with an army raiding the city of Constanta, just as Eleanora's mother goes into labor. He documents her mother's death, her father's grief, and the arrival of the aunt who arrives to raise her. He shows a little girl who takes the lessons of her favorite book, The Hourglass, to heart and stows away in her father's trunk as he travels to Stamboul for business rather than spend a month alone with her aunt.

Instead of getting in trouble for what she has done, Eleanora is treated to a vacation unlike any she could have ever imagined. She is treated as royalty, spoiled by the generosity of her father's friend the Bey. Just before they are scheduled to return to Constanta, tragedy strikes, and Eleanora finds herself alone. The Bey looks after her, honoring a promise he made to her father long ago. It is at this point that the pace of the novel slows down. It is also at this point when a degree of intrigue enters the story. Unfortunately, the potential suspense that could have been built by Reverend Muehler's attempts at espionage and the Bey's secretive meetings are lost in the description of Eleanora and her profound grief at the loss of her father.

Lukas' descriptions are beautifully written, particularly those of the physical environment. For example:

"Summer slipped into Stamboul under the cover of a midday shower. It took up residence near the foundations of the Galata Bridge and drifted through the city like a stray dog."

It is passages such as this one that keep the reader engaged through the slowest portions of the narrative. The chapters that describe Eleanora's self-imposed silence are, by far, the slowest of the novel. She is lost completely in her grief, and Lukas seems to devote his efforts into making the reader feel it right along with her. He need not have tried so hard. Thankfully, the beauty of his writing carries the reader through until the moment when Eleanor rediscovers her voice. There, the pace picks up again, though it never quite flows as smoothly as it does in the early chapters. The ending may seem to be a bit abrupt, but Lukas satisfies the readers' curiosity with the epilogue that he includes.

The Oracle of Stamboul is a good read, though a bit unsatisfying in places. The plot, which is not entirely unfamiliar, is elevated by the exotic setting. The descriptions bring Stamboul to life, making the reader wish that he or she was there to experience all the wonders that the city has to offer. The precocious little girl that I used to be identifies with Eleanora and almost wishes that she had been as brave. It is perhaps this quality that appeals to me the most and makes the story shine a brighter than it might have otherwise.(less)

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Jan 10, 2011 Ashley Poland rated it 2 of 5 stars

The book is well-written and just interesting enough that I finished it. The premise is interesting, and I actually had a lot of hope for it in the opening. But as I read on, I just found it kind of lacking. Really, I'd say it's an interesting book wherein nothing really happens.

I didn't find the main character very believable as an eight-year-old girl, even as an exceptionally gifted one, and none of the other characters really held any interest for me. I would find myself wondering about their...more

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Oct 16, 2012 Gerhard rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

'That is exactly why I requested to be sent here,'said Fredrick. 'They fought me on it first. Didn't think the readers would want a sketch from Asia. So I told them, first of all, half the city is in Europe. And second, this is exactly what the readers want. They want dervishes and elephants. Just look at Kinglake. Look at the Arabian Nights. People want Oriental colour.'
The Reverend raised his glass in toast.
'To Oriental colour. And old friends. Welcome to Stamboul.'

This is the kind of book...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Trish rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: asia, fiction, mideast, teen, totally-unexpected

I was completely charmed by this unexpected fairy tale of a novel which tells of a young stowaway in a rug-seller's trunk who travels by boat to Stamboul, the city at the intersection of Europe and Asia. Stamboul is a city shrouded in mystery & incense, colored with bazaars & sunsets, and clamorous with music & many tongues. It may be universal that children, unfettered as they are by knowledge of the world, nourish the seed of hope that they might be discovered to possess unusual sk...more

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Apr 23, 2011 Marialyce rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: april-2011

I did so like the gentle but effective writing of this story. It portrays the story of a young savant/genius who is left an orphan and ultimately winds up as an advisor to the sultan. While the book is encased in magic and mystery, the story clicks along thanks to the wonderful prose of the author.

While to book is simple, for there is not much there except a bit of intrigue and the precociousness of our heroine, Eleanora, there was a sense of peace to this tale. Eleanora only a girl of eight ha...more

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About Michael David Lukas

Michael David Lukas has been a Fulbright Scholar in Turkey, a late-shift proofreader in Tel Aviv, and a Rotary Scholar in Tunisia. A graduate of Brown University and the University of Maryland, his writing has been published in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Slate, National Geographic Traveler, and the Georgia Review. He has received scholarships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Bread...more

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Now You See Her / The Peach Keeper / Buried Secrets / The Oracle of Stamboul (Reader's Digest select editions, volume 5, 2011) eri

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Quotes from The Oracle of Stamboul

“She hadn't lied. She hadn't betrayed anyone's trust; still, she felt she had done something wrong. Or rather, she had not yet done the right thing. Was there a difference between these two sins?” — 14 people liked it

“With every choice, even the choice of inactivity, we must shut the door to a host of alternate futures. Each step we take along the path of fate represents a narrowing of potential, the death of a parallel world. The path of fate was more like a tunnel, and it was constricting about her with ever step she took.” — 7 people liked it

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