21st Century Literature discussion

This thread is for general comments and background information - no spoilers please. I'd like to start with an apology - this is a book I read some time ago and I have not found time to re-read it for this discussion.

I have decided it is not within the spirit of the retro nominations/discussion process for me to read or take inspiration from the 2012 threads. I will open a new thread dedicated to evaluating the exercise and comparing the discussions now, but I do not intend to comment in it until the last week of the month. If you do want to read the 2012 discussions now, you can find them by following the links here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

My Name Is Red was published in Turkey in 1998, but qualifies for this group because the English translation was not published until 2001. It was the fourth of Pamuk's books to be published in English translation.

If you are thinking about participating, it would be good to hear from you here.

A few reviews and articles (these may contain spoilers):
https://www.theguardian.com/education...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
http://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/boo...
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/200...
http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-...
http://yalereviewofbooks.com/my-name-...

Another Guardian book club series:
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

I'm not very far along but I am really enjoying the way Pamuk is introducing each character in separate chapters. I admit a weakness for introductions. Often I like the first year of a tv series best because that is where we know nothing and have everything to learn about the players in the story.

Thanks for leading this discussion, Hugh!

I'm excited for this one. It's been on my reading list for the longest time. I read Snow and The Black Book about 10 years ago, and I really enjoyed them. I found myself completely engrossed with each one. So glad to be getting back to him now.

I've had my eye on My Name is Red ever since I read his newest book (Strangeness in My Mind) for the Man Booker International. I'm really glad we're getting to this now, it looks super interesting!

Michelle - exactly the same for me! Read his latest earlier this year and glad to be reading this one now.

Michelle, Neil, I am glad to hear positive things about A Strangeness in My Mind, which is on my physical to-read shelf. This was the fourth one I read afterThe Black Book, The New Life and Snow, and for me it is the best of those four, but its historical setting and its ideas on art make it very different to his more political books about modern Turkey.

Not overly useful, but the table of contents alone I found thought provoking in considering Islamic art:

https://books.google.com/books?id=KCV...

A quick perusal provides some images -- and many frustrating spots where digital images could not be provided.

More here than I have been willing to explore yet, but will probably return to the section on Tabriz at least.

https://books.google.com/books?id=3Sa...

I started with the print book and just couldn't connect. Someone suggested the audio, which has drawn me in. But I'm glad to have kept the print book! I'm listening and then looking at the book to clarify names, places, etc. in the introductory chapters. It feels like a lot of work to read this, but again I'm drawn in to the historical setting, culture and the art. Not to mention the mystery of who killed The Corpse and who is Red.

I'm starting late, but hope to catch up. The first few pages drew me in immediately.

Pamuk's writing is definitely Nobel worthy. I've enjoyed all that I've read and now enjoying re-reading Red.

http://faculty.gvsu.edu/websterm/pamu...

Came across this last night. Think I shall continue to find it useful as I poke my way through MNIR. Resources for a college course. Entering it here should help me find it again.'

http://www.complete-review.com/review...
This is largely, if not entirely, a repeat of links to reviews provided above. Haven't really explored either myself. Does have sort of a summary gleaned from multiple reviews.