Title:
Turquoise: A Love Story
Author: Ayshe Talay-Ongan
Rating: 2/5
I received a copy of this book from the
publisher, Sid Harta Publishers , via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest
review. I thank the publisher for this
opportunity.
Summary: Yasmin and
her Armenian classmate Ani were oblivious to ethnic differences during their
school years in Istanbul. Years later they run into each other, and Ani
introduces Renan, her husband, to Yasmin. At that moment under the blazing
autumn skies, as Yasmin locks eyes with Renan, she knows that she has come upon
her destiny. But political tensions in their land soon force Renan, her secret
love, and his family to immigrate to Sydney.
A few years on, Yasmin's diplomat father is
appointed as the Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles where the family faces a
devastating tragedy that will impact their lives in ways unfathomable. She is
now forced to make a choice between passion that defines her and reason that
guides her. (Taken from goodreads.com)
Review: This book didn’t sit well with
me. The characters were vapid, annoying
and otherwise not all that interesting.
The self-centered attitudes of all the characters made this book
difficult to finish, but I did finish it (still don’t know how I managed
it). This story is more of one of
obsession, because the main character merely wants to covet her best friend’s
husband. She is in love with the idea of
him, not so much in love with him, with the attraction not the person. It is nauseating.
To have a character that is so empty and shallow that they go around saying
things like “Dear God, let him be jealous of me!” makes me ill. Yasmin, the MC is unredeemable in her use of
her best friend in my mind. The way she
analyzes herself is mindboggling and does show that the author does have a
background in the mental health field, but we get stunning gems like this:
It is not because I would wilfully (sic) deny myself the joy of a ripping
orgasm - I am a child of the roaring women's lib, after all- but because I was
perfectly self-sufficient and I truly could not be bothered teaching him how my
body worked.
Or, this:
Times after the end of a relationship should be used as an opportunity to
listen to one's self, to register the authentic voices that spring from the
solar plexus. To seek one's pat to genuine wholesomeness towards a deep-seated
sense of being at home with one's self. What have you done instead? Your best
remedy when you were rejected by one man was to seek another without examining
the rubble left behind. Tennis club to the rescue!
I’m not sure I’d read this again, or to whom I would recommend it to. Again, not a favorite, and I’d say it was a
grand adventure, but then I’d sound vapid.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at
simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews
I received a copy of this book from the
publisher, Sid Harta Publishers , via netgalley.com in exchange for an honest
review. I thank the publisher for this
opportunity.
Summary: Yasmin and
her Armenian classmate Ani were oblivious to ethnic differences during their
school years in Istanbul. Years later they run into each other, and Ani
introduces Renan, her husband, to Yasmin. At that moment under the blazing
autumn skies, as Yasmin locks eyes with Renan, she knows that she has come upon
her destiny. But political tensions in their land soon force Renan, her secret
love, and his family to immigrate to Sydney.
A few years on, Yasmin's diplomat father is
appointed as the Turkish Consul General to Los Angeles where the family faces a
devastating tragedy that will impact their lives in ways unfathomable. She is
now forced to make a choice between passion that defines her and reason that
guides her. (Taken from goodreads.com)
Review: This book didn’t sit well with
me. The characters were vapid, annoying
and otherwise not all that interesting.
The self-centered attitudes of all the characters made this book
difficult to finish, but I did finish it (still don’t know how I managed
it). This story is more of one of
obsession, because the main character merely wants to covet her best friend’s
husband. She is in love with the idea of
him, not so much in love with him, with the attraction not the person. It is nauseating.
To have a character that is so empty and shallow that they go around saying
things like “Dear God, let him be jealous of me!” makes me ill. Yasmin, the MC is unredeemable in her use of
her best friend in my mind. The way she
analyzes herself is mindboggling and does show that the author does have a
background in the mental health field, but we get stunning gems like this:
It is not because I would wilfully (sic) deny myself the joy of a ripping
orgasm - I am a child of the roaring women's lib, after all- but because I was
perfectly self-sufficient and I truly could not be bothered teaching him how my
body worked.
Or, this:
Times after the end of a relationship should be used as an opportunity to
listen to one's self, to register the authentic voices that spring from the
solar plexus. To seek one's pat to genuine wholesomeness towards a deep-seated
sense of being at home with one's self. What have you done instead? Your best
remedy when you were rejected by one man was to seek another without examining
the rubble left behind. Tennis club to the rescue!
I’m not sure I’d read this again, or to whom I would recommend it to. Again, not a favorite, and I’d say it was a
grand adventure, but then I’d sound vapid.
If you have any questions, comments or recommendations you can contact me at
simplicity.kindreth@gmail.com
My reviews can be found here:
http://www.caedyslibrary.blogspot.com
http://www.tumblr.com/caedy
http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/caesreviews
