The Book that Started Excitingly But Ended Predictably
This is the first and so far the only Orhan Pamuk book that I have read so far. It's beginning was quite promising and I had big expectations for it. Besides, I only have heard praise about the author and its books. Although I had my prejudices before I started it I was pleasantly surprised by the book.
The Plot
This is the story of two men who look incredibly alike. One is an Italian prisoner in Istanbul, the other a Turkish scholar known as Hoja (Turkish title for Master since the Ottoman Empire). It all starts when Hoja buys the Italian prisoner and the two start to teach each other everything they know. They get to know the other so profoundly and proficiently that no one, not even they, are able ever to distinguish then from one another.
Why The End Was Predictable
The suspense was growing up to the middle of the book and then ... it was just obvious what was about to happen. Nothing to surprise me, not a single turn in the story, nothing to thrill you or scare you. I almost felt like in the middle of the story the author lost his inspiration or he just didn't care to think about the ending. Nevertheless, the beginning is a masterpiece - the fabula goes nicely, every single detail has its perfect place and contributes to the whole picture. A wonderful first half, I would always recommend the book just for the sake of reading the beginning. But be prepared that you'll guess how would end way before you would wish to.You can't get lost if you don't know where you're going...
