Long sections of this book felt like a slog. The hazard, perhaps, of any novel written in the first person is that the narrative threatens to become too narrow and therefore tiresome. You only get to know the narrator, so you need him or her to be generous and truthful. But the narrator in this case is both obsessive and sometimes unreliable. I learned more than I wanted about the narrator’s love for one woman and her effect on him. She’s on every page. And yet her own character feels vague even after 532 pages.However, the book had many beautiful passages and was perfect for my purposes. I wanted to know more about the everyday life of regular people in Istanbul. Much of the story is premised on a wealthy, culturally westernized Turkish man trying to ingratiate himself with a working class İstanbullu family, partaking in the simple pleasures they draw from life, and discovering the wisdom of their humble perspectives.The book should be read alongside Pamuk’s memoir, Istanbul: Memories and the City, in order to catch the many parallels between the two. Also, I’m only a 100 pages into Pamuk’s earlier novel, Snow. But, if I were asked to recommend a Pamuk novel, Snow is the one I would recommend most excitedly.The copy of Museum of Innocence that I read was borrowed from Cass County Public Library and is signed by the author. Long sections of this book felt like a slog. The hazard, perhaps, of any novel written in the first person is that the narrative threatens to become too narrow and therefore tiresome. You only get to know the narrator, so you need him or her to be generous and truthful. But the narrator in this case is both obsessive and sometimes unreliable. I learned more than I wanted about the narrator’s love for one woman and her effect on him. She’s on every page. And yet her own character feels vague even after 532 pages.However, the book had many beautiful passages and was perfect for my purposes. I wanted to know more about the everyday life of regular people in Istanbul. Much of the story is premised on a wealthy, culturally westernized Turkish man trying to ingratiate himself with a working class İstanbullu family, partaking in the simple pleasures they draw from life, and discovering the wisdom of their humble perspectives.The book should be read alongside Pamuk’s memoir, Istanbul: Memories and the City, in order to catch the many parallels between the two. Also, I’m only a 100 pages into Pamuk’s earlier novel, Snow. But, if I were asked to recommend a Pamuk novel, Snow is the one I would recommend most excitedly.The copy of Museum of Innocence that I read was borrowed from Cass County Public Library and is signed by the author.
What do You think about Masumiyet Müzesi (2008)?
Có lẽ, tôi cũng như Kemal, theo thời gian, cũng sẽ có một bảo tàng cho riêng mình. Nhưng tôi ghen tị với Kemal bởi bảo tàng cuat tôi có lẽ sẽ chỉ tồn tại trong ký ức, tôi không thể có những vật hữu hình để gợi nhớ lại tình yêu.Một ngày nào đó, khi đến Instabul, tôi sẽ ghé bảo tàng của Orhan (hay của Kemal?), để sống lại những giây phút tuyệt vời mà quyển sách mang lại, và để đắm chìm trong tình yêu của Kemal dành cho người yêu của ông.
—Paul
Có lẽ, tôi cũng như Kemal, theo thời gian, cũng sẽ có một bảo tàng cho riêng mình. Nhưng tôi ghen tị với Kemal bởi bảo tàng cuat tôi có lẽ sẽ chỉ tồn tại trong ký ức, tôi không thể có những vật hữu hình để gợi nhớ lại tình yêu.Một ngày nào đó, khi đến Instabul, tôi sẽ ghé bảo tàng của Orhan (hay của Kemal?), để sống lại những giây phút tuyệt vời mà quyển sách mang lại, và để đắm chìm trong tình yêu của Kemal dành cho người yêu của ông.
—jenairish
This is a tale of obsessive love that takes hold of you for 530 pages....
—Sleeve17
