1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
“A book that starts with the statement 'I am nothing but a corpse now, a body at the bottom of a well' promises to be a thrilling murder mystery right from the onset, but what makes the book even more exciting, is the exotic setting of this turkish novel. Set in Istanbul during the sixteenth century, the book looks into the politics, philosophy, artistry and lives of miniaturists. The best of the miniaturists there, under a master painter are set upon the task of creating a book of paintings, by the Ottoman emperor. As the work is proceeding, one of the miniaturists gets murdered and a pall of suspicion mires the religious leaders, fellow painters and others, even as the reason or motive behind the murder remains shrouded in the numerous alternatives.[br/][br/]The dichotomy between the newer western style and the eastern form prevalent from the time of the great masters creates a complex political scene, that is handled in such an elegant manner by the author that it never gets jarring or overtly political. Literature at its height, the book seems to follow a unique style of switching to each chapter with a first person narrative by a different person. Most characters in the story get to present their perspective/their side of the tale; including inanimate objects like the paintings, corpses, the mysterious murderer. The pacing with the twists and turns, enlightening insights into the colouring, guilding, sketching and painting techniques; the turmoil in the personal lives of the miniaturists their emotions and longings, suspicions and schemes, doubts and ideas; is just right for a book that runs for more than 500 pages. The message comes through that each painter should have a style of his own and should neither stick only to the old or ape the newer western techniques. The ending is like a dream and also brings in the author Orhan as a part of the story.[br/]A must read for lovers of literature, this superlative work of the art of fiction.[br/]”
Shamit B wrote this review Thursday, December 6 2007.
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