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 An informal group of writers who enjoy reading books & sharing feedback |
Since I couldn't obtain a copy of The Forty Rules of Love, Lilli was kind enough to allow me to read Elif Shafak's second book, Three Daughters of Eve. I don't know where that title came from because there is nothing about 3 daughters in the book. But it is a good story. Three Daughters of Eve, by Elif Shafak This is a story of friendship, betrayal, unrequited love, and forgiveness. The story opens in Istanbul in 2016 where we meet Pericim, often called Peri. She’s a wife, a mother, and a modern Muslim woman living in Istanbul. She is married to a prominent man and has a teenaged daughter. She is attending a party of a rich and influential businessmen and their wives in a beautiful home by the sea in Istanbul. The story unfolds slowly, but Elif Shafak’s use of exquisite description keeps the story vivid and allows the reader to ‘see’ Istanbul and Oxford vividly. Oxford: resembles a place out of a children’s story book. Cobbled streets, crenellated towers, cloistered arcades, bay windows and carved porticoes. A pub: a place with low ceilings, creaking wooden floorboards, and clamorous customers. Everyone drinking beer in glasses fit for the hands of giants. The story is interspersed with descriptions of Muslim religious customs and beliefs, both the story in Istanbul in 2016 and at Oxford in the 1980’s. The Characters: Pericim Nalbantoglus is the main character/narrator. The story begins when Pericim, Peri, is young, the 1980’s, and lives with her family in Istanbul. The scenes alternate between 1980’s when she is at Oxford University, and 2016 when she is married and living in Istanbul. Peri’s father, Mensur, is a heavy drinking, non-believer who dotes on his daughter. Her mother, Selma, is a devout Muslim and her relationship with Mensur is not good. Shirin, another prominent character, comes into the story when she meets Peri at Oxford University. Shirin (Pronounced Shee-reen) is the opposite of Peri. Where Peri is quiet, withdrawn and shy, Shirin is outgoing, fun-loving, and precocious. She enjoys the campus party scenes. The scenes in 2016 hint that Peri holds a secret from long ago when she was in university in Oxford, England and involves a professor named Azur. Azur is a middle-aged professor at Oxford. He teaches a class on religion. He is popular with some students and hated by others. There are hints that he has affairs with some students, but only after they are no longer in his class. The 1980’s is the story of Peri as she attends Oxford University. While at Oxford, Peri becomes emotionally involved with professor Azur, which is foreshadowing for what comes later in the story. There are hints along the story in 2016 that Peri has somehow wronged Azur in a significant way. Peri does not have an intimate relationship with Azur, and it isn’t until very near the end of the book that we learn that Peri had fallen in love with Azur, and was jealous when she learned that her good friend Shirin and Azur were having an affair. A former student of Azur’s files a complaint against Azur, claiming that Azur is having an affair with Peri, which would be against the college’s policies because at the time she was one of his students. A hearing is scheduled and Peri is to testify that she and Azur are not having an affair. (They aren’t). But out of jealousy over Shirin, Peri does not show up at the hearing and Azur is dismissed from his job as a professor. It is learned at the end that Azur, even though he became a prolific author, was never truly happy again. Shirin has married a rich man but has stayed in touch with Azur, but not Peri, who she blames for Azur’s troubles. (Rightfully so). At the end of the book, a group of terrorists invade the party Peri is attending. She hides in a closet while the others are rounded up. She finds Shirin’s phone number and calls her. She wants Azur’s phone number, and while hiding in the closet she phones Azur and apologizes to him, and he forgives her. The story ends without a resolution to what happens in the apartment; which is kind of a disappointment, leaving me feeling a bit cheated.  |
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