10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

No Words

I should be proud that hey I finished three books in two days. Thank you, readathon, for pushing me to finish books that have been on my bookshelf for so long on both my shelf and my Kindle. I bought *10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World* by Elif Shafak because a YouTuber I watch liked it, and I wanted to read something out of my comfort zone. But all this book did was make me sad. I am proud to say, though, that it did get done in one sitting.

Despite its literary acclaim, I found this novel a tough read. The story revolves around Tequila Leila, a sex worker in Istanbul, whose life unfolds in flashbacks during the 10 minutes and 38 seconds after her death. While Shafak's prose is undoubtedly beautiful, the unrelenting bleakness of Leila's experiences made it hard for me to connect with the characters or feel anything other than sorrow.

The narrative's non-linear structure was intriguing but ultimately felt disjointed, making it difficult to maintain engagement. While I understand that the book aims to shed light on the marginalized and forgotten individuals of society, the sheer amount of misery and injustice depicted left me emotionally drained. I had hoped for at least some moments of hope or redemption, but these were few and far between.

In conclusion, while I appreciate the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone, *10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World* was not the enlightening experience I had hoped for. It’s a well-written book with important themes, but it wasn’t the right fit for me. Two stars.