3.5
My Name Is Red
ByPublisher Description
The Nobel Prize winner and one of today's most prominent contemporary Turkish writers delivers a novel that is a fiendishly devious mystery, a beguiling love story, a brilliant symposium on the power of art, and a “modern classic … rich and essential” (Los Angeles Times Book Review)—set amid the splendor and religious intrigue of sixteenth-century Istanbul.
The Sultan has commissioned a cadre of the most acclaimed artists in the land to create a great book celebrating the glories of his realm. Their task: to illuminate the work in the European style. But because figurative art can be deemed an affront to Islam, this commission is a dangerous proposition indeed. The ruling elite therefore mustn’t know the full scope or nature of the project, and panic erupts when one of the chosen miniaturists disappears. The only clue to the mystery—or crime?—lies in the half-finished illuminations themselves. Part fantasy and part philosophical puzzle, My Name is Red is a kaleidoscopic journey to the intersection of art, religion, love, sex and power.
Translated from the Turkish by Erda M Göknar
The Sultan has commissioned a cadre of the most acclaimed artists in the land to create a great book celebrating the glories of his realm. Their task: to illuminate the work in the European style. But because figurative art can be deemed an affront to Islam, this commission is a dangerous proposition indeed. The ruling elite therefore mustn’t know the full scope or nature of the project, and panic erupts when one of the chosen miniaturists disappears. The only clue to the mystery—or crime?—lies in the half-finished illuminations themselves. Part fantasy and part philosophical puzzle, My Name is Red is a kaleidoscopic journey to the intersection of art, religion, love, sex and power.
Translated from the Turkish by Erda M Göknar
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesMy Name Is Red Reviews
3.5
“My Name is Red was a very dense read that felt somewhat unsatisfying in the end. The themes of the book and intended message are thrown in your face the whole time - so it’s hard to miss. I don’t relate much to the location or time period which the book takes place. In turn, the story was hard to fully enjoy. 3/5.”
Change and growMinor characters stand outMorally ambiguousMultilayeredUnlikableClever plottingSlow-pacedUneven pacingUnpredictableAncientHistoricalOpulentRealisticSetting fits the storyUnique locationVivid descriptionsBeautifully-writtenDenseDescriptiveFlowery/lushHard to followTakes getting used toWittyAbleismAbuseChild abuseDeathDomestic violenceGriefMisogynyMurderReligious intoleranceSelf-harmViolence
“Really enjoyed reading. More than a story of feelings, the writer illustrates even the minute details of the art and love. Mind blowing!”
“Reading a translation is always a risk, but so glad I forged ahead. I’ve never read anything quite like this before, but I can see why it’s won so many awards.
The book is an onion of layers, with each chapter told from the POV of various characters and inanimate objects, as were introduced to the setting, a budding romance, and a murder mystery. One chapter, told from the POV of a coin, is particularly unforgettable, as it details of its existence, including being stuck in someone’s ass!
The writing is very lush, and at times it can feel repetitive and overly poetic. I found that if I just relaxed into it and stopped looking for an ending, it got more enjoyable.
Overall a 5-star read.”
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
