My Name is Red

[SarahKat, Buddy Reads]

This thread is to discuss My Name Is Red by Orhan Pamuk.

Pages: 417 pages

Length: 1 month (September)

Participants: Valerie, Lorraine, Surabhi

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.

[Valerie]

Hi Lorraine and Surabhi, when do you want to read this? Start of the month or in the second half? I can do either so let me know.

[Lorraine]

Hi Velerie. I was thinking the first week of September.

[Valerie]

Ok that works for me. It sounds like an intriguing read so I’m looking forward to it. I’m also giving the book (in Spanish) as a birthday present to a friend who is off to Turkey in October so hopefully she will enjoy it.

[Surabhi]

Hi Valerie!
I would also begin reading it from the 1st week of September!
So excited already.
Please let me know when you both start reading the book.

[Valerie]

Ok Surabhi, looking forward to reading with you.

[Dorothy]

I've just ordered this from the library...don't know when it will come in.

[Valerie]

Don’t worry, Dorothy, just start when you can - we will hide any spoilers in our comments. Good to have you join us!

[Valerie]

Planning to start this tomorrow.

[Lorraine]

I will also be able to start today!

[Valerie]

I have read to the end of chapter 5 and decided to stop and order my thoughts. Apart from the central mystery, this seems to be a book with stories within stories. Not entirely sure who is who even those whose identities are not being deliberately hidden by the author. It’s all very intriguing if a bit confusing at the moment.

[Dorothy]

So I tried to start my read of this but the copy I have from the library has really tiny print so I can't read it. I'll have to see if there is an audio version. Let me know if it is good enough for me to shell out for the Cd version.

[Dorothy]

I just found a used copy on Amazon.ca and have ordered it.

[Lorraine]

Valerie wrote: "I have read to the end of chapter 5 and decided to stop and order my thoughts. Apart from the central mystery, this seems to be a book with stories within stories. Not entirely sure who is who even..."

I also stop at after chapter 5. As I am reading the book in french, I cannot blame the langage for feeling the same way you did. I hope that the next chapters will bring light on who is what but I think we might have to wait till the end.

[Lorraine]

Dorothy wrote: "I just found a used copy on Amazon.ca and have ordered it."

I hope this copy will work for you Dorothy.

[Valerie]

End of chapter 14. Ok I’ve got all their identities sorted now (except for who the murderer is of course). I was confused by the fact that all the men seemed to be Effendi until I found out it isn’t a name but a mark of respect!
(view spoiler)[ Esther is my favourite character at the moment. I also admire Shekure’s pragmatic approach to a world where she’s got limited choices. None of the male characters have stood out for me so far. No one is an obvious suspect so far. (hide spoiler)]

[Valerie]

End of chapter 29. Well things have certainly moved on. I’m hooked.
The murderer (view spoiler)[ why did he feel the need to confess to Enishte? Did he need someone to justify his actions or did he unconsciously want to give himself an excuse for another murder? Will there be more death until he’s last man standing? (hide spoiler)]
Shekure (view spoiler)[ what will she decide? What a complex mix of a person she is to live her life hidden away. (hide spoiler)]
Still don’t know who but some idea of why.

[Valerie]

End of chapter 45. So which of the suspects is the murderer?
(view spoiler)[ the clues seem to be pointing to Stork but is the author just manipulating us to see things that way? Least likely seems to be Olive but maybe again that’s a deliberate disguise. Butterfly is a posible because of ambition and pride but I don’t think so. I’m going with Olive because he’s the least likely (hide spoiler)]
So let’s see if I’m right.

[Lorraine]

Valerie wrote: "End of chapter 29. Well things have certainly moved on. I’m hooked.

End of chapter 30. Cannot say I am hooked but I do like this book so far. (view spoiler)[ No idea who the killer is at this point (even though I feel there is a clue that need to be pursue) and also not sure why The Murderer needed to confess. But I am thinking he already had the idea to kill Uncle.
I love the Assyrian legend about the old man waking up in the middle of the night and finding Death in his bed when he came back to his room! What a nice legend! (in chapter 29) (hide spoiler)]

I am reading about 5 chapters a day so should reach chapter 45 soon.

[Valerie]

Finished. The book meandered and rambled a bit but once it got there the final part was great. DO NOT READ THE SPOILER UNTIL YOU FINISH!!!
(view spoiler)[ Can’t take too much credit for guessing correctly although the horse discovery confirmed it. Interesting how Osman was prepared to sacrifice Stork in order to protect Olive.
I’m glad Black survived as he deserved it after everything even if he is a bit of a deluded romantic fool.
Manipulative but magnificent Shakule was definitely my favourite character although Esther remained a close second (hide spoiler)]
Although there are a few parts that are a bit long winded and self indulgent, I really enjoyed this book and was drawn into the complex world it depicted and which the author has rescued from the oblivion of history.

[Dorothy]

Just got my audio copy so will be starting it soon.

[Surabhi]

Oh my God !
I haven’t even started. I was on a vacation and could not start reading. I will start this day after tomorrow. I feel left out 🥲

[Valerie]

Don’t worry Surabhi, Dorothy is just starting as well.

[Lorraine]

Valerie wrote: "End of chapter 45. So which of the suspects is the murderer?
[spoilers removed]
So let’s see if I’m right."

I am at chapter 53. I am also going for the one you chose.

[Surabhi]

Just finished chapter 4.. and I love the style of narration..