Snow by Orhan Pamuk Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Snow
Book Review: Another Obscure Nobel Prize Winner
Summary: 2 Stars
While I did feel the author conveyed the desperation of cultures dealing with a population divided over modernization and fundamentalism, I felt, in general, this book was ill conceived. The characters are one dimensional and wooden. For example, Ka is obsessed with a woman from his past because she is beautiful, as he continually reminds us, ad nauseum: although they haven't seen each other for years, and she is married to someone else, within hours of reconnecting with her, he asks her to run away with him. He witnesses a shooting in a cafe, and never reacts to it, leaves the man to die, and never reports it? Are we to take a protagonist such as this seriously?
While the author sets up scenarios where people discuss the benefits/deficits of westernizing, the sequences are extremely long, drawn out, and the characters never make clear points. The premise of Ka's going to report on the suicides of several girls forced to go to school without being allowed to wear their headscarves was great, but the theme was never developed, deconstructed, or resolved.
I think this is a typical case of a writer who is so obscure that the Nobel committee gives them a prize, perhaps, thinking the disorganization and poor storytelling skills signify genius (i.e., if you don't "get" it, you obviously don't belong in the "club.")
Book Review: Another excellent piece
Summary: 5 Stars
This is yet another sumpuos piece of reading from the acclaimed author. This one is full of political intrigue, love, fundamentalism and poetry set in a modern-day Turkish border city. Although Pamuk's "my name is red" is better some respects, but this one is also interesting because of its contemporarity of the story. An exiled poet Ka comes to Kars, the city, with the hope of finding a long-lost love and under the disguise of journalistic reportage of suicide girls wearing head-scarfs. But he gets caught in the theatrical coup d'etat of the local military commander in association with a disgruntled actor Sunay Zamin. He becomes a meditator between the secret police services and Blue, the enigmatic Islamist. The story has lots of twists and ends in tragedy.Book Review: Awesome book.
Summary: 5 Stars
Seriously, it's awesome. I had to purchase this book in order to do a presentation in my Turkish Culture and Civilization class, and really, for assigned reading, I haven't yet seen a book with as many overlapping and complex themes as Orhan Pamuk's 'Snow'. On the outside, it's an examination of the clash between the secular West of Turkey and the more traditional East, but on reading the book further you find a delightfully interwoven tale of love, loss, and self-discovery. It can be a little depressing at first, what with all the suicide, but nonetheless you won't be able to put it down until you finish, and even if you are able to put it down by some master sorcery you won't be able to get it off your mind for at least a day.Book Review: Beautifully Written, but Boring
Summary: 3 Stars
I was really excited when I learned that my book club's latest selection was from Turkey, Snow by Orhan Pamuk. I actually read the first half of it on my recent trip to Turkey, and highly enjoyed it as it relies heavily on knowledge of Turkish culture and politics.
Snow is the story of troubled poet named Ka and his visit to rural city of Kars. During his three-day visit (the length of the novel...ironically, it's not possible to read it in three days), the snowbound city is taken over by martial law. Ka himself struggles with his love of Ipek and being caught in the middle of the local disputes. To give an accurate picture of the plot would take way too long, and it's not that interesting, anyway.
One of my fellow book club members thought that this was intended to be a farce. To be honest, I'm not really sure if it is or not. The tone seems to indicate that it's not, but it very well could be. It does seem that the book is talking about the foolish pursuit of happiness.
Basically, I'd stay away from this book. Even I and my love of Turkey didn't enjoy it. There's plenty to enjoy about how he writes, but plot-wise it's a difficult book to swallow, especially at it's length.
Book Review: Book Club book only
Summary: 2 Stars
I wouldn't read this unless you have a forum to discuss it in or a long vacation to read it on. I think being more familar with the culture would have helped my enjoyment. There is so much over-the-top drama to make specific statements but was too much for my taste. It is interesting to get other's takes on it as you discuss it - def some original scenes. I also really hated the font - way too small - find a large print if you decide to get this.