“A letter doesn't communicate by words alone. A letter, just like a book, can be read by smelling it, touching it and fondling it. Thereby, intelligent folk will say, 'Go on then, read what the letter tells you!' whereas the dull-witted will say, 'Go on then, read what he's written!”
Plot: 16th Century Istanbul - an illustrator working on a secret book for the Sultan is murdered. The book will use European style art techniques, which are considered blasphemy in the Muslim world. Black, who has just returned from several years abroad, is asked to investigate the killing. Black hopes to use the investigation to rekindle a romance with his old love. The book touches on the nature of art and the influence of the West that was just beginning at the time of the story.
Why read it?: They mystery part may appeal to some, I wasn't that impressed with that part. But the details and ideas of how art may be viewed, and the uses art has in our lives is fascinating, along with a vivid description of life in that part of the world. The way in which cultures intersect and meld is obviously still relevant today, just as it was then.
One of my daughters bought me this for Christmas, it was one of several books by middle Eastern of Islamic writers she gave me. Interestingly enough I had recently finished another book by Pamuk, Snow, which I had found very compelling. This is a hard to categorize book - several people compare it to The Name of the Rose, which I suppose is accurate. A historical mystery, focusing on a period of great change in society. The whodunit part of My Name is Red did not excite me much; the plot narrows things down to three suspects early on, and I found them all pretty interchangeable and not particularly well defined. That is most likely due to my unfamiliarity with the culture, but it wasn't that important to me anyways. I found musings on art and culture and religion to be amazing, even as they go on and on for chapter after chapter.
My Name is Red takes place in late 16th century Istanbul; contact with the western world is beginning to be more common. The book deals with the effects of that contact, mostly through art, but the effects carry over to other aspects of life as well. There are obvious parallels to current day events and issues (the lack of understanding of different cultures is through an Islamic viewpoint here). An illustrator, working for the Sultan on a book that will show the glories of his kingdom, is murdered. Suspicion falls on 3 of his fellow artists who are also working on the book. While such books were routinely done, this book is special; rather than being done in the traditional Islamic style, which is very stylized and basically consists of reproducing figures done centuries ago by the acknowledged masters of they style, the illustrations in this book are to be done in the European style, which aims for realism and shows individual detail. To many, this is blasphemy.
Black, who once trained to be a miniaturist with the suspects in the murder, arrives back in Istanbul after many years away. He is pressed into service as a detective by his uncle, who is overseeing the book's development. Black once hoped to marry his uncle's daughter, Shekure, when they were younger, but she ended up being married to another and now has two young sons. Her husband however, is presumed dead in battle. Black is still in love with Shekure and sees this job as a way of getting back into her life.
A big part of the charm of this book is the style. There are a multitude of characters who get a chance to tell their story. Chapter 1 is I am a Corpse, and is narrated by the murder victim. The murderer (I will be Called a Murderer), a dog, a tree, a coin, even a color, hence the book title, all get their own stories and have the chance to express their ideas of art, what it means, what it should be and what is should depict. I will admit to getting lost at times in trying to figure out what exactly is going on or what point someone is making, but I got enough of it. In particular, I was fascinated by the details of how books of the time moved around, being given as gifts, or won in battles, and how the books were then redone to fit its new owner. Whether this explains the development of Islamic artwork, or whether Islamic artwork influenced political life in the region, I'm not sure.
The love story between Black and Shekure is worth the read as well. Both have their own ideas and goals, and aren't hesitant to manipulate things, including each other, to get what they want. Early on, Black seems a bit bumbling and too overwhelmed with his desire to win Shekure, but he proves to be a bit more wily than he lets on. Given that he needs to solve a murder to save his own skin, win over and marry Shekure, and fend off a determined and not very nice rival suitor, all in a few days, Black eventually proves to be up to the task.
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