July 2020 - The Architect's Apprentice

[Cherie]

I finished! I really liked the difference in the feeling at the end of the story.

@ the accidents at the job sites (view spoiler)[ I thought it was so terrible that the Sultan’s daughter was willing to sabotage the job sites and get people killed just because she was angry at her father and that they paid Davud to help and then he blackmailed her and the nurse. Davud was so terrible to Sinan. (hide spoiler)]

@ Jahan (view spoiler)[ he was just too trusting and lost out on all Sinan had wanted for him. I guess it worked out well for him in the end though (hide spoiler)]

[Lilisa]

Finished the Dome section. Sad that (view spoiler)[observatory had to be destroyed:-( and Yusuf turning out to be a woman was interesting but I didn’t feel like it added much to the story other than to show Sinan’s kindness in rescuing her, Jahan, etc. and that she was his concubine - I think This wasn’t revealed in this section, but later. This section was a bit long. I liked this sentence attributed to Jahan: “Never before had he thought that among an architect’s tasks would be the protection of the city from its inhabitants and the protection of the past from the future.” It’s weird but it feels so relatable to the series I’m watching - The Protector - set in Istanbul, which is set in the current day and during the Ottoman Empire. We got a preview of Chota wanting to die when he runs away at the end of this section. Jahan is going to be devastated. (hide spoiler)]

I’m in the After the Master section. I agree with Cherie (view spoiler)[Sinan was working until 99-1/2 when he dies - that’s amazing, particularly in that day and age - people probably didn’t live that long plus he survived working for three sultans. Nikola dies of the plague - now what’s going to happen to the remaining apprentices? This is the second book I’ve read in a few months where there’s a pandemic/plague - hmmm. (hide spoiler)] I have about 60 pages to go.

[Lilisa]

Finished the book - (view spoiler)[I found the last part dragged a bit until the last 25 or so pages.Thought there were too many twists and turns fit into the last section. What a godsend Balaban has been for Jahan - he comes to the rescue every time Jahan is in trouble. I liked that Jahan ended up in Agra to be part of the design of the Taj Mahal. (hide spoiler)] overall I enjoyed the book.