Kelly’s review of Istanbul: Memories and the City > Likes and Comments

Yes! I have this book at home on my bookshelf (sadly it's not with me at college). Must get to it soon. And I know exactly what you mean (and you said it so beautifully too): Evocations of people living with the remains of ancient power, both its physical reminders, and its ironic, sad ghosts of the spirit..

It's good, but it didn't really impress me. I prefer Pamuk's fiction.

Istanbul is brilliant, though. By all means go there. One of my favourite cities on earth. :-)

Until I can go there (which could be years from now, grrr), I think I'll read this instead.

Sarah, thank you. I can't wait to see your review of it if you get to it before I do!

I agree with Martine - this was good but didn't bowl me over.

It has a rather languid reading quality, so I found it a little hard to retain at times. But I liked that he talked both about Istanbul on its own terms but also in conjunction with his life there, because it helped to communicate the sense of what it's like to actually live there.

I also agree that it's a brilliant city :) I only spent a couple days there, but I've been itching to go back. A friend of mine recently taught English there for a couple months and liked it so much he's going back. I'm insanely jealous!

Oh, and I've been meaning to read his fiction - do you have any suggestions, Martine?

I'm also itching to go back to Istanbul, Taylor. I was there for five days, which wasn't enough. I envy your friend for having lived there!

As for Pamuk's fiction, I've read The New Life and The White Castle. I quite liked The White Castle, which is set in the seventeenth century. The New Life, which is set in the present, has superb parts, but the overall effect leaves a bit to be desired, in my opinion. Definitely an interesting read, though.

I hear Snow is excellent, but I haven't got round to reading it yet. It's on my to-read shelf. Likewise My Name Is Red...

Thanks for the suggestions, Martine - the descriptions of both sound very compelling. I've had a thing for east-meets-west authors in the past (Rushdie is one of my faves), so I'll definitely add The White Castle to my list. I've heard good things about Snow, as well. That seems to be the most talked about among his works, but I don't always like to start with those. I've had a hard time deciding where to begin with Pamuk's fiction because his works all sound so wildly different, so thanks for helping me narrow the field!

Kelly, have you ever seen Fatih Akin's movies, Head On and The Edge of Heaven? Fascinating portraits of Istanbul from a deeply conflicted German-Turkish perspective.

I have not, though you make them sound very much worth seeing. I imagine there's not a lot out there from that perspective. Should I see them?

Yeah, they're both great.

Thanks, Bunny. Coming from you, that definitely means a lot. I hope you make time to read this one day. (I know to-read piles are huge for people around here. :))

Interesting. I hated Ornament of the World, in part because I got sick of Menocal's overuse of the Memory Palace/Garden/Ruin/etc etc etc... imagery. I agree with all of the above, though - great review!

Well come on now! Just 'cause it has a city's title on it doesn't mean its going to tell you the best way from the Marriott to the Hagia Sophia. Grrr, Barnes and Noble!

Sarah: I understand your frustration with Menocal. I agree she could be repetitive (and biased!) as well. But the image is lovely and expressive and allowed me a way into the world she was drawing, even if she ended up overly enamored of her own cleverness in creating it.

I will warn you that Pamuk can be somewhat repetitive in his own discussion of the city's melancholy (that's the only reason this didn't get a fifth star), but I found that he generally had a new perspective to give me on what he was saying, so I didn't mind it. Also, he's a fairly unreliable narrator in terms of his impressions, and admits it himself, but as the book isn't meant to be anything close to a history, I don't find it a problem. Its part of the psychological study of the city. I do hope you still read it, but if you hated Ornament of the World, I thought I'd give you fair warning of the similiarity.

As long as he leaves "Memory Palaces" out of it, I'll be fine. I was especially frustrated because I am interested in the Renaissance theory of memory palaces, and I was annoyed to see a term with an established meaning taken out of context, re-purposed, and then beaten to death. Repetition, in itself, doesn't bother me. I did LOVE Harold Bloom's introduction.

Anyway. Have you seen the book Convivencia? It's on the same topic, with lots of pictures. Very interesting.

I see! I misunderstood your problem with it. He doesn't once mention the words "memory palace", I promise. :) As for Harold Bloom's introduction, I liked it too, but I thought it was funny that Menocal clearly got him to do it because they're both Yale staff, and she included that chapter on Don Quixote, his favorite book everofalltimeEVER, and he was just as biased as she was.

I haven't seen that book. I will definitely look into it if you think that it is worth reading?

Stunning review, Kelly. Beautifully done.

I'm glad you enjoyed it! The book very much spoke to me. I hope, if you read it, it does to you as well! :)

Just read and reviewed "Istanbul: Memories and City". Very thoughtful book- though not everybody's experience of living in Istanbul. I'd like to read more of his works- maybe "Snow" next.

Great review, Kelly. I just spent the last week in Istanbul (which is amazing) and am looking for some related books...might have to start here.

As long as you go in knowing that this is more like a memoir than a history, more like a meditation on a bunch of topics that have to do with the city... some people think this is going to be a history I think. I TOTALLY recommend it- this is one of the books that totally changed my world view.

PS- I am SO jealous that you went to Istanbul. OH MY GOD.

When I read him say he still lived in Istanbul, in the family apartment building where he grew up, I knew I was hooked. Love that kind of obsessiveness! Makes for a particularly fantastic kind of writer.

Well you should love the Museum of Innocence, then! I thought the book was only okay (especially in comparison to this work), but the museum project... talk about a monument to obsessiveness! I hope you'll post some sort of reflection/pictures if you're going to visit it!

Yeah, that's right. Now you're mandated to go because of my random offhand comment! :)

But seriously, I hope that you have a great time! So jealous! Istanbul's at the top of my list of places I want to visit.

I just finished the chapter on hüzün and now count myself a fan. Snow is my girlfriend's second-favorite book, so she wanted to visit his museum the second she heard about it. I want to give The Museum of Innocence a go, but I might have too much to read as it is; and I just added A.H. Tanpinar.

I did read this great memoirs long time back and this book lying with me at my personal library.I am still feeling his words that created a picture of his past living.Those words sometimes discover me in my own insight with greater significance of my own past.No doubt this book enable him into a dignified state of world literature.

Yes, I think that this book is less recognized than the novels that have become more famous (Snow and My Name is Red), but it is my favorite of his works.

This is a great review, Kelly. I have only read My Name is Red and have Menocal's book waiting for my attention... May be I should follow the same order of reading as yours.

The themes you select from this book are fascinating... I definitely want to read this.

You know, Menocal's book annoys some people (the bias, the repetition) and I get why, but I really did find its atmospheric qualities and the subject matter it talks about great preparation for Pamuk. I don't think you'll regret reading it if you take it with a pinch of salt.

But I LOVE this book. I have no reservations about saying that. It made a big difference to me in my life at the time and it is amazing. I just love it.

Kelly wrote: "You know, Menocal's book annoys some people (the bias, the repetition) and I get why, but I really did find its atmospheric qualities and the subject matter it talks about great preparation for Pam..."

Yes, I imagine that Menocal's book is not first rate, and I wonder whether she exaggerates some aspects. I also imagine that there will not be so much for me to learn from her account. I also have another, more academic and specialized, of her books which will probably be better.

Istambul is a fascinating city, so I am looking forward to reading this. I once run into Pamuk in a restaurant in NYC.

Awesome. Did you work up the nerve to talk to him? I saw him speak once at an event, but didn't get to speak to him personally. I was waiting in line but then thought I might get tongue-tied and left. I did the same thing when I was in line to meet Byatt.

I really hope that you like this! Again, I think it is wonderful.

Yes,well said Kelly,thanks. I did not read Snow yet.Hope to collect it very soon.

I am glad I read it, for sure! Some people find it hard to push through (and it can be in the middle) and it can occasionally be ponderous. But I think that it is well worth reading and provides some really excellent writing and a different perspective.

Stunning review, Kelly :)

Almost 10 years later, I’m here to say thanks for the amazing review! I stumbled upon it while looking for more to read by Mr. Pamuk. You have a gift with words, going now to read more of your reviews. Just thought you should know that years later your review still resonates and is appreciated.

Sorry for the belated response but thank you! This book still resonates in my memory as well!

Kelly, beautiful review. I loved this book too.

It’s a gorgeous, immersive thing.