“'My name is Red' is innovative in many ways; not only because it has many subjects - both animate and inanimate - conversing with reader in first person in seemingly effortless change of tones and perspectives but also because of the finesse with which Orhan Pamuk handles the oft-repeated theme of clash of civilizations on an eternal battleground of Turkey where Europe and Middle East jostle noisily with each other. Having said that, the book did appear rambling at times and was bit of a drag at places. The details with which the paintings and illustrations of old masters were described became bit repetitive for me and if not for an seemingly innocuous but astute observational sentence that would appear uncannily at times, I'd have been tempted to speed-read through middle section. All in all, a book worth a read if you can attune yourself to its somewhat languid pace. ”
