The World's Literature in Europe discussion
Focus on Turkey 2013-14
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novel: THE ORACLE OF STAMBOUL by Michael David Lukas
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What is your understanding of the title, Gill?
Well, Leonora the girl in the book has some magical powerw that she, and we, don't entirely understand. Every time something unusual is about to happen, birds appear. To me, the birds are the Oracle, and also the girl is.
The epigraph quotes Pierre Loti, "Ah, Stamboul! Of all the names that can enchant me, this one remains the most magical." I haven't quite figured out this Frenchman's significance to Turkish history, but he lived from 1850-1923. He obviously visited Istanbul many times, as he was a naval officer, and some sites are named after him there. At the end of his life he apparently aided Turkish independence. The following humorous picture is not at all like the austere one, taken as a youth in uniform. Today he is known for being a writer. 
Pierre Loti in 1891, the year before his induction into the Académie Française (Wikipedia).
I enjoyed it but it doesn't really feel all that Turkish, in the end. You could have picked Eleanor up and dropped her into any exotic location with a sultan/king/emperor and the story could have been the same. I think the author wrote the book to get to talk about late 19th century Istanbul but it wasn't essential for the story somehow.And while it isn't classified YA, it had that feeling to it to me.
I noted in passing some reviews which mention a book within the novel, i.e., the fictitious, magical, 7-volume history 'The Hourglass" which captivates the protagonist Eleanor. So said, at least one conversation with the author Michael David Lukas noted some other literary authors who insert fictional books into the main story. The same conversation noted also that eight-year-old Eleanor at the end could possibly lead the region, as the Ottoman Empire is greatly shrinking its frontiers, along a different historical path. Did you notice magic realism in this novel? Since I didn't yet read "The Oracle of Stamboul", I'm wondering how those points make sense to someone who read it?
Yes there is a lot of magical realism, from the relationships she is able to build with animals to her almost supernatural ability with words. And then there is the scene that brings home the title.The book mentioned within the book is important as it helps her make decisions. At first I didn't realize it was imaginary and went looking for it. It is a long saga about a Romanian family, her mother's favorite too, and it also becomes more important as the book goes on. Eleanor comes from Bucharest, at least her family does.
I thought it was a lovely book. It took me on a magical trip to the Ottoman Empire of the 1880s. I loved the characters, and the descriptions of the sights and sounds and smells were very effective.
It's only a month since I returned from Istanbul. This book makes me want to return there.