The Bastard Of Istanbul

“Once there was; once there wasn’t.

God’s creatures were as plentiful as grains

And talking too much was a sin....

Many of you might be judging the content inside from its title, but I assure you that you will find more once you start reading.

The story revolves around 19 years old Asya Kazanci who is Zeliha Kazanci daughter and they live together with Zeliha’s other three sisters, mother and a great grandmother in Istanbul, Turkey. None of the ladies are married except Auntie Banu, but she lives with her family instead of her husband because of her own reasons. They also have a brother, Mustafa, who lives in Arizona, US and never visited Istanbul in last 20 years. He is married there with an American woman who has a daughter Armanoush from her first husband, who happened to be an Armenian. Armanoush/ Amy lives with her mother and stepfather in Arizona while visits his father’s family in the other city sometimes. Another reason that he stays in the US because of the curse that runs in Kazanci family that all of its men die in their 40s and Mustafa dies in.....

Zeliha is the most rebellious woman in the Kazanci family and runs a tattoo parlour. The uncontrollable streak passes to Asya’s personality as well who don’t like traditional living standards or norms that her family follows, but she tries to stay away from it as much as she can. She has her own social circle of elders double her age that matches her philosophical mindset. 

Asya is an illegitimate child of Zeliha and the thought of finding her father or getting know about intrigues her the most while no one talks about it in the family as they also do not have any idea about the man. BUT, other than Zeliha, there is someone else in the family too who knows about Asya’s father and even Zeliha is not aware of it....

Apart from being controversial in terms of its story, the novel also hit the Turk and Armenian conflicts occurred in 1915. Elif Shafak faced sentence and hearings for writing this part of history that irked Turk government and its citizens. 

All in all, the novel is a must-read that will captivate you until the end as you will get to know the purpose of Armanoush's arrival in Turkey and finally find out about Asya's 'father'!

To Kill a Mockingbird!!

Shoot All the Blue jays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mocking bird.

A classic novel by Harper Lee that was written 50 years ago. 

Lee won Pulitzer Prize for this & when you will read it, you'll get to know Why!

The story revolves around Atticus Finch (a lawyer) who lives with his two minors, Jem (13 years old) & Scout (nearly 9 years old) in Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus is raising his children alone with a black housemaid whom he highly regards. His parenthood depicts the clear view of how Father raise kids as a lone parent. But, Atticus is a man of value who has taught his children to be peace loving and kind with everyone.

Scout is narrating the story with her perception of a 9 years old when she gets to experience changing behaviors & discrimination of White & Black when Atticus (who is White) chooses to contest a case of a black man Tom who was falsely accused with the rape charges.

The story explains the social injustice & racism that used to exists at that time in an American society & surprisingly, it still exists. 

Atticus faced hypocrisy of justice system for his client Tom Robinson, the wrath of the national extremists who tried to harm him & his children, but he advises his children to face it with dignity & morality (something which is very rare these days).

Harper Lee has explained the overall story in such a manner that you feel like being part of every scenario. There are very simple day to day happening being told in the story and you do not get to know that when do you have learned so much from this book as the end arrives.
The basic idea of the novel is to tell others that how discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, color, and language causes destruction to the generations as it was happening with the Tom's family in this story. Not only with the victims, but such behavior is harmful for the society as a whole. Lee explains all this everything from Scout's point of view to her adult readers.
There are many parts of this book, which are my favorite. for instance, when Scout had her first day in the school and totally hates it.
Other one is when Scout, Jem, and Dill bet to make Boo Radley (One of their mysterious neighbors) coming out of his home.
One scene was when their aunt Alex comes to live with them and both children have to adjust according to her.
The scene of court proceedings is also a very powerful chapter to read, it gives you the idea of being present there yourself and witnessing it.
Along with these, there are number of events in this book that you will remember forever.


Written in a flow with humor, logic, simplicity & tragedy, Lee proves that she is one of the splendid writer that English Literature has ever received.
The uncomplicated story has a heart melting effect. You will feel so close to every character and will want to know more about them. 

This book is a recommendation for everyone. Even if you are not a reader type of person!