This novel was a maddening read for me. On the one hand it is a fine piece of writing craftsmanship, deftly interweaving multiple themes, characters, and conflicts. On the other hand, it often fails at the points where it attempts to be real, or accurate, leaving the question in my mind as to whether readers who don't have the cultural, religious, and geographic background in which the novel is set are in some way deceived, or even confirmed in their prejudices.

This work is a blend of true geographical settings, historical events, and hot cultural controversies such as Muslim-Christian relations, Kurdish-Turkish relations, pro- and anti-Americanism, tradition and modernity, changing gender roles, and others, combined with a fictional plot in which the author attempts to get inside the heads of Kurdish and American players who are caught in and live these controversies. The reader must allow the author novelistic license. But if it is the author's intent at the same time to be historically, geographically, and culturally accurate--which seems to be the case here--then this book needs some serious editing.

Here are a few areas that seem deficient. The Turkish words and phrases used by the author are sometimes correct and sometimes glaringly wrong or inconsistent. He needed to have someone correct his Turkish usages, if it was his intention to be accurate. The tent city near where much of the novel takes place is some distance from Istanbul. One could not simply hop on public transport in the days following the earthquake, or even today, and arrive in the old parts of Istanbul in a few minutes. Turkey drives on the right. One cannot look down from the Bosphorus bridge to the water by driving in the far left lane, no matter which direction you go over the bridge. A real clanger: Muslims in Turkey are not buried in coffins. A Muslim girl raised traditionally would never speak of "walking down the aisle" as a way of describing a wedding.

Points like these are bothersome not simply as a matter of pedantry but because they lead me to question how well the author has understood traditional viewpoints in Turkey. He works hard to reveal the self-consciousness and mentalities of a traditional family. But if he hasn't got the external facts right, how accurate is he with these deeper matters? Is this novel really a helpful guide to the way that Kurdish people in Turkey think, or the way American expatriate Christians in Turkey think? Too often it struck me that the attempt to explain, for instance, the thoughts of a traditionally raised Kurdish young woman ends up being a back-handed critique of her life from a modern secular point of view. And so the reader who is unknowing is not helped.

The handling of description, characterization, plot, tensions, the personal within the political, and other aspects is masterful, and the author is to be commended for this achievement. The book is an undeniable page-turner and a satisfying read from many aspects. But whether it enlightens us -- as it seems to want to do -- regarding the real-life issues with which we must deal in this world is questionable. ( )

This was a very good read. The book shows some of the problems of the Middle East. One family, in particular, are at odds with everyone. They are Muslims/Kurds and are displaced refugees in Turkey. The teen-age daughter is fighting a moral battle with her Muslim values and the freedoms of the West.

It is a very insightful novel showing the problems Christians bring when they come to save the Turkish after the tremendous earthquake that brings destruction to the Turkish people.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of other cultures. ( )

I loved this book. It was given to me at a library workshop. I am so glad I read it before putting into the collection. The author uses the love between two teens to highlight the struggle between Muslim and Christian cultures. Although it is a tragic tale, he shows how there can be friendship and tolerance between different cultures. ( )

enjoyed the writing, the author made me feel as if I was there. The characters were believable and shows that there's a bit of good in all of us and a bit of bad too. Young love with teens of different cultures. I liked the ending, there was no solid resolution and reminds me that we will live with the outcomes of our choices for the rest of our lives. ( )

Two teenagers falling in love, each questioning their parents' love, testing/clashing with their parents expectations and values. Two cultures/religions: American Christian vs. Kurdish Muslim. An earthquake which turns the lives of all the members of both families upside down and inside out. This is a sad story, a serious story, but also just the kind of book I like. I learned more about another culture/country. I was totally immersed in the story and didn't want to stop reading. Finally, I wavered back and forth in my sympathies and support for the beliefs and resulting actions of the various characters in this book. And I like that best of all because it really makes me question the basis for my own beliefs or values.