The release date for the English version of 'The Bastard of Istanbul' by
Elif Shafak is Jan 2007. If you enjoy this novel, it is available for buy as a paperback from Barnes & Noble or Indigo, as an ebook on the Amazon Kindle store, or as an audiobook on Audible.
This work explores the complex histories of two families and comes from one of Turkey's most well-known and vocal authors.
Elif Shafak tackles her nation's violent history in her second English-language book, a bright and colorful story set in both Turkey and the US. At its core are the four sisters of the Kazanci family, who all reside in an extended household in Istanbul: Zehila, the vivacious and assertive youngest sister who owns a tattoo parlor and is Asya's mother; Banu, who has recently come to terms with her newfound clairvoyant abilities; Cevriye, a widowed high school teacher; and Feride, a hypochondriac who is fixated on impending disaster. Their lone, estranged brother resides in Arizona with his spouse and their daughter Armanoush, who is Armenian. Armanoush encounters the Kazanci sisters and quickly befriends Asya when she surreptitiously travels to Istanbul in quest of her true identity. The two families are connected by a secret that was discovered, connecting them to the murders and deportations of Armenians in 1915. The Bastard of Istanbul is a daring, compelling story that will solidify Shafak's status as a rising star of world literature. It is full with strong, memorable female characters.