Bastard of Istanbul

Unquestionably an ambitious book, exuberant and teeming . . . a novel crammed with characters and themes, not unlike Istanbul itself ― Guardian

Wonderfully magical, incredible, breathtaking . . . will have you gasping with disbelief in the last few pages ― Sunday Express

Heartbreaking . . . the beauty of Islam pervades Shafak's book ― Vogue

A writer whose artistry matches her ambition . . . she has taken on a subject of deep moral consequence ― New York Times

A brave and passionate novel

Tremendous exuberance . . . I do like a writer with a purpose ― Margaret Forster

An astonishingly rich and lively story ... handled with an enchantingly light touch ― Kirkus

Overflows with a kitchen sink's worth of zany characters ... an entertaining and insightful ensemble novel that posits the universality of family, culture and coincidence ― Publishers Weekly

A tender and spirited novel... Steeped in the sights, colours and smells of Turkey's capital, it grapples with the country's dark legacies ― NPR Books

A beautiful book, the finest I have read ― Irish Times