10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World: A Story That Will Stand the Test of Time | Book Review

Hello…friends?

I have been writing in various capacities for over 10 years now and I still don’t know how to open a new blog post. “Hello, friends” feels nice but then if you’re a random stranger, is that too intimate? I mean I’ll gladly be friends with anyone but I don’t know if that means I should open my blog that way. “Hello, readers” feels too impersonal. And then just cutting to the chase with no introduction doesn’t feel right either. Is this an elusive writing secret that you never know and then one day you do just somehow magically know, and that’s when you become a ‘proper’ writer? Who knows. Not I, clearly. Anyway. Back to the topic at hand.

Hello friends. Happy 2023. As the first month of the year draws to a close (already!), I am bringing you a blog post I am really excited to write. You may or may not know but Elif Şafak (or Shafak) is one of my all-time favourite authors. I truly feel she has such an incredible way with words. I’ve read many of her books and devoured and loved every one of them. This January, I read a book of hers that really took me by storm. It may be (and this is a bold statement here), my favourite book of hers to date. The book being 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World.

Book: 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World
Author: Elif Şafak
Genre: Literary Fiction
Rating: 5 Stars

Description (taken from Goodreads):

‘In the first minute following her death, Tequila Leila’s consciousness began to ebb, slowly and steadily, like a tide receding from the shore. Her brain cells, having run out of blood, were now completely deprived of oxygen. But they did not shut down. Not right away…’

For Leila, each minute after her death brings a sensuous memory: the taste of spiced goat stew, sacrificed by her father to celebrate the long-awaited birth of a son; the sight of bubbling vats of lemon and sugar which the women use to wax their legs while the men attend mosque; the scent of cardamom coffee that Leila shares with a handsome student in the brothel where she works. Each memory, too, recalls the friends she made at each key moment in her life – friends who are now desperately trying to find her. . .”

What’s really interesting to me about this book is that before I even started reading, I knew what the book was about…yet by the end I was in tears. Tears that Leila gets the peaceful end she wanted and deserved, but also tears at saying goodbye. Which is ironic, because we meet our character as her body is shutting down and dying. It’s a book that told me upfront what it’s about, yet it still is brimming with emotion that despite knowing what’s coming, it moved me nonetheless. So, let me break down what it is about this book that makes it such an incredible and captivating read.

First off, the language and writing style. It feels like you’re not reading a book, but having someone narrate it to you. I wouldn’t say the writing style is ‘basic’, not by a long shot but it does feel easy to read. The way Şafak writes makes the story flow with ease, weaving the story right before my eyes. Combined with this, the book is a very sense-heavy book. This book is a clear and perfect example of ‘show, don’t tell’. As Leila dies, we read about scents, tastes, sounds, and feelings in her memory as she reflects on her life. These are all brought to life with such vivid descriptions that it took me no effort to be able to transport myself there and almost be able to experience them all firsthand. It’s a feast for the imagination. Like I said – before going in, you know this book will be emotional and sad, to say the least. But it was also so beautifully written it felt magical and peaceful. I’d never have thought those would be words I’d associate with someone dying, yet here I am writing it, because it’s true.

The plot. It covers such a vast amount of time in a really clever way – especially as the book itself is not long at all, just over 300 pages. Yet in those pages, we see Leila’s entry to the world, her upbringing with her somewhat unconventional family, all the way into adulthood and the very moments before she dies – and then again we still follow her journey after she’s passed. Throughout this journey, we learn so much about Leila and her life, but also about Turkey – and specifically, Istanbul. The plot of Leila’s life, or rather the reflection of it as she dies, is interwoven with historical events and commentary on society within the city in a way that feels honest, thought-provoking and at times – bold and brave. Şafak is Turkish by parentage but is not afraid to comment on complex issues and themes in her works – such as gender, human rights issues, political and societal issues and even abuse in many forms; even in this book, Leila spends the majority of her life working in a brothel. These themes that are present are handled in such a sensitive and compassionate manner, something that is not an easy feat, yet Şafak has done it masterfully.

The characters. Within one short book, Şafak has created such a beautifully diverse group of characters that I couldn’t help but love them all so fiercely. Leila has a brother at the start of the book who is born with Down Syndrome, one of Leila’s friends is a Turkish trans woman, another one is a victim of human trafficking from Somalia – and there are many more. The way these characters were all written as outcasts from society for whatever reason, yet find friendships as strong as family and solace in each other was heartwarming, to say the least. Furthermore, what is really endearing is the centre point for all these characters, what they all have in common besides being societal outcasts: how they all love Leila. This is a big theme within the book and it was written in a way that felt so honest and believable and especially in the last third of the book, with so much raw emotion. These people Şafak has written into this book are more than just characters on a page. They were so well written and with so much depth that they became real people I could see living in Istanbul. After the last page, I found myself still thinking about them, so full of love for them and feeling in awe of the journey I’d been on not only in the book but in the book with this cast of characters.

One more thing I want to draw attention to is how clever Şafak is with her writing; there’s a moment in the book where it shifts. Where Leila is no longer a person dying, but rather just a body and her soul is no longer present. The change in tone when this shift happens is so starkly obvious and even now I am amazed. As we read the book, Leila is already dying, so I wouldn’t have thought there would be much difference when she has fully passed, and yet the difference is present and noticeable. It is a small detail but a significant plot and mood change, and really impacts the feel of the story from that moment onwards. To me, it just cements both what an incredible book this is and what an incredible author Elif Şafak is.

Now any one of these elements can turn a book from boring to a fantastic read. But the way Elif Şafak has crafted 10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World with all three of these elements and her unique, exquisite way of telling a story means it is a fantastic, captivating book that is worthy of all the praise it’s received and then some more. Elif Şafak is a true master in storytelling. Her way with words, crafting the stories, the setting, and the characters is unmatched. There is real honesty in her pages and so much raw emotion. From page one, her books always have me entranced and wholeheartedly immersed and this book was no different. I know I’ve said it before but I will say it again: Elif Şafak is a literary genius. This book made me laugh, it made me cry (consistently throughout and then sobbing at the end). It made me think and my goodness did it make me feel. This is one of the most incredible books I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I will never forget the journey of reading this, of how it changed me and what I learnt and so so so much more. This is a story of trauma, growth, strength, friendship, family, love, and humanity. This is a story that will stand the test of time. This is a book I truly think everyone needs to and should read. I’d even be so bold as to say it is one of the greatest books not only of today, but of all time.