Pamuk does not write mystery novels. However, if the reader can discover the mystery that the person has hidden in the story of the novel through hints and words, they can place themselves in the role of a truth seeker. This also makes the reader's trust in the author stronger.

Absolutely simple, the events that are foreseeable also gave birth to an eternal question and a memorable surprise in the last chapter.

He did not want to think about how terrible the world would be if men spoke always of themselves, of their own peculiarities. If their books and their stories were always about this.

I don't know how to write a review for such a book! I'm sure it deserves more than 3 stars because it's a unique and one-of-a-kind story. However, I haven't enjoyed it that much. The ending was vague, as were the characters. Sometimes I thought the character Hoja was mentally disturbed, and sometimes I thought he was a genius. As for his look-alike, the slave who the story was actually about, he was brilliant. Sometimes driven by his own emotion, but he had something about him that made him superior to Hoja. Perhaps it was his honesty. This book left me with mixed emotions.

It's basically about a Turkish Muslim Scholar and his Christian Italian Slave who refuses to convert to Islam. The Master and his Slave look exactly alike! They spend all of their time together and develop a weird bond between friendship and brotherhood.

"I loved him, I loved him the way I loved that helpless, wretched ghost of my own self I saw in my dreams, as if choking on the shame, rage, sinfulness, and melancholy of that ghost, as if overcome with shame at the sight of a wild animal dying in pain or enraged by the selfishness of a spoilt son of my own. And perhaps most of all I loved him with the stupid revulsion and stupid joy of knowing myself." This description really shows the complex and intense emotions within the story. It makes me think deeply about the nature of relationships and the human psyche.

The White Castle
Authors: Orhan Pamuk
Translation: Abdul Qader Abdulali
Publisher: Dar al-Mada
Number of Pages: 154
Genre: Novel

Before the Story:

In 1982, during the summer when our hero, who works as the head of the history department in the encyclopedia, spent a week in the Jabal al-Lawz area (Gaza). While browsing through the Qaqan historical archive (a governorate administrative region), he accidentally comes across a box containing a map wrapped in an eye-catching blue cover with the childish handwriting \\"The Son of the Builder\\" written on it. This title intrigued our hero, so he began to examine it and was amazed by its contents to the extent that he wanted to take it intact to reread and rewrite it!

Our hero has difficulty determining the date when the book was written and he sees a historical event that did not match another event whose time was mentioned!! Or the names of ministers in a confusing way!! So he decides to focus on the story and ignore all other scientific or temporal implications.

And the hero begins to rewrite that book from the old Turkish language to the modern one. So will the entire story remain as it was or will there be a change?!

The Story:

A young Italian doctor is sailing on a ship that is being attacked by the Turks. The young man is captured and his knowledge of a particular type of medicine enables him to be treated, but it does not last long. Then he is offered to convert to Islam in order to be released, but he refuses and returns to prison again. Then he is freed to become a slave to a strange personality called the Master!

Who is the Master and what is the resemblance between him and this young man?! How will their relationship be with each other?! And will it remain in one direction?! What is the task that they will both undertake and will they succeed in it?! And how will each of them part from the other?!
All of this is promised to you to learn about through the novel.

The Evaluation:

Do you agree that some short novels can be much more popular than thick novels?!

This is what happened to me with this novel. Although my readings of the author are limited so far, I cannot deny that I was previously impressed by his novel #The Museum of Innocence, which was the reason for buying the rest of his works to read them, even if it was later. And here I am now with his second novel, although it is the oldest and it is said that it was the reason behind the author's fame and gave him a prominent place among contemporary books.

I understood from the novel the values that the author wants to shed light on, and I cannot deny that the historical sections and the introduction to the story are good in terms of the idea and may be creative in the era in which they were written. And the use of the language of the speaker is the most appropriate with the context of the book, except that with all of that, I did not enjoy it much.

I give the novel 3/5 for the main idea and the introduction to the story. The narrative that the author adopted made it a maze due to the updating of the writing language to modern Turkish.

Of course, I still have the intention to read other books by the author

A Short Start

I embarked on reading this novel primarily because it was Pamuk's shortest work. While I had an affinity for the subject matter of his other novels, I harbored a concern that I might take on more than I could handle. You see, I'm the kind of person who feels compelled to finish a book once I've begun it, regardless of whether I despise it or not. So, this particular novel served as a sort of taster for me, a way to dip my toes into Pamuk's literary waters without fully committing to a lengthier and potentially more challenging read.


From A to B Inevitably

It can be fairly stated that what transpires at the conclusion of the book is inevitable. However, the true artistry lies in the manner in which Pamuk brings it about. There comes a moment towards the end of the book when the door swings open, and suddenly, we find ourselves on the other side of the story. But in that instant, we are forced to look back over our shoulder and wonder, how on earth did we get here? How did the author manage to lead us so seamlessly from one point to another, making the inevitable outcome feel both natural and surprising at the same time?


From A to B Predictably

It truly irks me when individuals criticize a book simply because they deem it predictable. In my view, everything can seem predictable to someone, even if it wasn't so for me. Just because I didn't anticipate a particular turn of events doesn't mean it was obvious to everyone else. I'm not a big advocate of prediction. I fail to see the point in constantly trying to anticipate what's going to happen next. After all, isn't the journey more important than the destination?


From A to B Enjoyably

But even if a story is predictable, the skill lies in the journey, in the way it is told. It's like a joke, or life, or sex. We all know what the end result will be, but it's the experiences, the emotions, and the little details that occur between now and then that truly matter. Something similar might have happened to each and every one of us, but it's the unique differences that make each story special and enjoyable. It's these subtleties that Pamuk masterfully weaves into his narrative, making the reading experience a truly enjoyable one, regardless of whether the outcome is predictable or not.

In the seventeenth century, a young Turk captive named Vanezi is taken to Istanbul. He claims to be an expert in astronomy, physics, and painting, and becomes a Turkish slave. The slave has a strong desire to learn about Venice and Western sciences from his master. These two, the master and the slave, with the intention of getting to know, understand, and communicate with each other, sit opposite each other at a table in the dark and empty houses overlooking the Bosphorus Strait and engage in conversation. They ride on a vehicle of stories and experiences that lead to the creation and invention of incredible weapons, and finally, they are faced with the question: "Why am I who I am?"

The story that unfolds gradually, day by day, and as night falls, the illusions take their place.

"The skill and art of Pamuk is such that it has easily managed to bring all these thoughts in the form of such a short novel."

A story written in a charming and beloved style, full of symbols that raise many questions. If only it were shorter than that, and if only it were a translation other than the translation by "Abdul Qadir".

This story seems to have a certain allure that draws the reader in. The use of symbols adds depth and mystery, making the reader constantly wonder and explore. However, its length might be a bit of a deterrent for some. If it could be condensed without losing its essence, it would probably be more accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, the fact that it is currently only available in the translation by "Abdul Qadir" might limit its reach. It would be interesting to see how the story would come across in a different translation, perhaps one that could bring out different nuances and interpretations. Overall, this story has the potential to be even more captivating with a few adjustments.

Alice, the enjoyable side of life is the combination of interesting stories and listening to interesting stories. - At the beginning, thank you for your kindness..

In my first experience with him

And surely it won't be the last...

He charmed me...astonished me..I loved the style in which this novel was written...

And before I start raving about this novel, a warning to those who haven't read the novel, perhaps I will slip and accidentally reveal something..but in any case..Pamuk is charming even if you know the plot of the story in advance!!

I liked that he chose someone else to write this novel.. and it's as if he is talking to us as readers and chatting with us..

And the matter became more complicated when I discovered that the narrator is not himself but someone else who lived with him or perhaps I got confused about the matter...or as he says: "Now as I write this book, I do not present a picture of reality, but only a reflection of my imagination."... and this adds to the mystery!

I liked that he employed the idea of "creating from the almost forty"

To make me think what if we were given the opportunity to meet someone who resembles us from the other side of the earth regardless of the circumstances in which the meeting took place and regardless of the background from which he came

The meeting of the East and the West under one roof...

And in the guise of his novel, he skillfully portrays a period of Turkish history..

When his novel begins with that Christian Italian who was captured by the Ottomans..

During that period, they were torturing the Christians and forcing them by force to leave their religion and convert to Islam!!

And he didn't stop there but made matters worse when he was tortured by "the master" - whom we will learn resembles him - on the pretext that he wants to learn from him...

And from here, in my opinion, the axis of the novel begins to talk about the self, the search and the thinking about the soul.. where the master begins to learn from the Italian and then the matter develops into the search for his own identity in his Italian resemblance and vice versa.. and the matter develops with the master's attempts to reach the sultan whom he has known since he was a child "Sultan Mehmed IV" and finds him "Sultan Köse Mustafa" and reflects to us with light historical snapshots of that period..

Pamuk controls the self in a way that approaches it from several angles. I would be lying if I said that I didn't get confused in some chapters between that Italian and his resembling master or rather I should say the master and his resembling Italian...

Some quotations

"There is no life that is planned in advance, and all stories are just a series of consecutive coincidences."

"Isn't the best proof that people are similar is their ability to take each other's opportunities?"

"What is the importance of who a person is? What matters is what he does."

"Do we know ourselves? A person should know himself well!"

"Searching within us and thinking about ourselves more than what is necessary only gives us sadness."

"The deception of language reveals the duality of life."

"We must search in the strange and astonishing as in my stories, yes perhaps this is the only thing we can do to face the narrow world that confines us."

_______

And it's no wonder that such a statement came from Pamuk:

"Literature is the gift of telling our own stories as if they belonged to others, and telling the stories of others as if they were our own."

** The review is not in the form I want but I tried... perhaps I will add to it at some point or rephrase some passages..

** Special thanks to the translator Abdel Qader Abdel Ali..

As a Kurd, I like Orhan Pamuk, can't I?

According to my usual habit, like a donkey, I went to the bookstore. I was looking at the names of the books and sometimes when no one was looking at me, I would also steal glances at them from the corner of my eye. In this situation, a young couple entered the bookstore. They said they were rejected and came in to see the bookstore. What a strange place the bookstore is!

Thank God, I'm not as shameless as you. I couldn't be like them because the lady was a very pushy person. Pushy means really pushy!

They, that is, the lady panther and her boyfriend, were also violating the books like me, but blatantly from the front and back! They reached the book "Love in the Time of Cholera" by Elif Shafak. The boyfriend of the panther said to the bookstore owner: "Dear doctor, I have heard such bad things about this book that I don't want to read it. What's your opinion about this book?"

The bookstore owner said: "My dear, if it's not too much trouble, please explain this book to our friends a little." He meant: Do something, you donkey!

I started to weave lies. I weaved so much that there was little left for me to buy a copy of the book myself!

The sexy girl understood that I am a lover of Turkish literature. And I

just wanted to prolong the conversation with the panther.

She had amazing legs. Long, thin and beautiful in shape. Breasts that were like white pomegranates. Of course, I imagined they were white...

May God not judge me wrongly and they be white.

I was present, reading and offering compliments to her jeans there.

I think all those dirty "writers" don't have a problem with this either.

Of course, maybe Dostoyevsky might bring a little mischief, but I swear if he saw the panther, he would die. I mean his heart...

My heart didn't want to let go of the panther. If only she would ask questions about all the books!

Her lips, and I still remember them. Lips that had become like cherries. You could do some calculations with her lips...

But like the end of the stories of Jean-Paul Sartre, everything turned around at once...

She spoiled everything with her last sentence!

Read whatever you want, you're a bug.

She said: "I'm very glad that a young Turk is so interested in his own literature."

I said: "I'm Kurdish :)"

I also smiled. To get my revenge.

It's all over.

Put yourself on the other side of the wall. Let both of you decide from the other, envy the other, turn into the other...

Well, which one is the real one? A transformation story through the other concept...

This thought-provoking statement makes us question our perception of self and identity. Are we truly who we think we are, or are we constantly influenced by the perspectives and qualities of others? When we imagine being on the other side, we enter a realm of possibility and self-reflection.

Maybe the real us is a combination of both selves, evolving and adapting as we interact with different people and experiences. This idea challenges us to embrace our duality and see the value in both our own unique qualities and those we observe in others.

Ultimately, it is through this exploration of self and other that we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

I read this novel out of curiosity as it was written by a Turkish author who won a Nobel Prize.

However, I was not very interested. Many parts of the novel are confusing and lack clarity.

Among them, when reading Calvino's 'Invisible Cities', I had a certain feeling (a great sense of wonder), and this novel gave me the same feeling.

Maybe it's because of the unique writing style and the complex themes presented.

But overall, it didn't meet my expectations.

I was hoping for a more engaging and straightforward story, but instead, I got a rather convoluted and somewhat abstract narrative.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate the author's attempt to explore different literary forms and ideas.

Perhaps with a second reading or a deeper analysis, I might be able to discover more of its hidden charms.

But for now, this novel remains a bit of a mystery to me.

\\"The White Castle\\" by Orhan Pamuk can be regarded as a historical novel. In this regard, it is historical as it is indicative of a period of history along with its constituent elements.

I love Pamuk because of the Eastern sensibility that is fully palpable in his writings. The first book I read by him was \\"Silent House\\", but this book was more thought-provoking for me in terms of our own Saadi's stories!

Of course, in the flights of the book, the reader is truly confused because the narrator constantly changes and moves around in such a way that when asked about Pamuk himself, he doesn't even know who the narrator is! The word games and the dialogues of the story are also among the remarkable points of this work!

Moreover, Pamuk's use of language in \\"The White Castle\\" is masterful. He weaves a complex and engaging narrative that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The descriptions of the historical setting and the characters are vivid and detailed, allowing the reader to truly immerse themselves in the story.

Overall, \\"The White Castle\\" is a remarkable work of historical fiction that showcases Pamuk's talent as a writer. It is a must-read for anyone interested in history, literature, or simply a good story.

3.5 stars.

This is an extremely fascinating, thought-provoking and multilayered novel. It has the power to draw you in and keep you engaged from start to finish. The story is filled with complex themes and ideas that will make you stop and think.

However, one aspect that slightly detracted from my enjoyment was the characters. They were, for the most part, rather unpleasant. It was difficult to really root for them or feel any real connection.

Despite this, I would still recommend this book to others. It is a unique and challenging read that will mess with your mind in the best possible way. Just be prepared for the somewhat unlikable characters.

Haha!