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Last Train to Istanbul Audiobook by Ayse Kulin
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Title: Last Train to Istanbul
Subtitle: A Novel
Author: Ayse Kulin
Narrator: Sanjiv Jhaveri
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
Language: English
Release date: 10-08-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 320 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Born into privilege to one of the last Ottoman pashas, beautiful, spirited Selva is the brightest jewel in her fathers household - until she falls in love with Rafael Alfandari. Though Turkey has long been a safe haven for Jews, marriage between a high-ranking Muslim girl and a Jewish boy is strictly forbidden. Yet young love will not be denied, and Selva and Rafael defy their parents and marry, fleeing to Paris in hopes of a better life - only to find themselves trapped in the path of the invading Nazis.
But in the midst of darkness shines a beacon of hope: A handful of courageous Turkish diplomats, protected only by the tenuous neutrality of their homeland, hatch a daring plot to spirit the exiled lovers and hundreds of innocent Jews to safety. Together, they will traverse a war-torn continent, crossing enemy lines and risking everything in one last, desperate bid for freedom.
Critic Reviews:
"Aye Kulin is a clever writer. She draws the reader into the story of the life and loves of a Turkish family in wartime, and by the time the reader realizes that she has also cranked up the tension with a rescue plot, it is too late to put the book down unfinished. For aficionados of wartime novels, as well as for anyone glued to his or her seat watching the film Argo, this is a must read." (Helen Bryan, best-selling author of War Brides and The Sisterhood)
Members Reviews:
A disorganized mess.
2 1/2 stars. This book sounded so good. Unfortunately the result is an uncohesive compilation of POVs of more than 14 characters. Many of the vignettes are barely related to the storyline. Most of the characters aren't even likeable. I listened to this book on audiobook and most of the voices are annoying as well. The husbands are all verbally abusive to their wives. One man even rapes his wife. The psyciatrist is especially loathesome. He seduces his patient while psychoanalyzing her. Let me undress you as you tell me about your relationship with your 8 year old daughter. Creepy! Near the end there was suddenly an erotic semi-public scene between two random characters. It was unexpected and made me uncomfortable. I didn't even know these characters so I skipped ahead. Then I discovered it was actually a rape by a random german soldier. Next we had a minor character die in his sleep. Neither of these scenes or characters were really plot pertinate. Finally we come to the finale we have all beeen waiting for. The relief of safety and the long awaited reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get closure. A book full of background details of minor characters fails to provide details of the resolution of the main plot and characters. It was unsatisfying.
3-Stars
Last Train To Istanbul is a beautiful work of historical fiction about two privileged Muslim Turkish sistersSelva and Sabiha. Sabiha marries a prominent Turkish diplomat, and Selva falls in love and marries a Turkish JewRafael Alfandari. Selva and Rafael are shunned by her family, and move to Paris shortly before the Nazi German invasion in World War II.
What I really appreciated about this novel was Ayse Kulins extensive research about that period of history, and I loved to learn about WWII from a Turkish perspective. Its a beautiful story of hope and courage.
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Title: Last Train to Istanbul
Subtitle: A Novel
Author: Ayse Kulin
Narrator: Sanjiv Jhaveri
Format: Unabridged
Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
Language: English
Release date: 10-08-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 320 votes
Genres: Fiction, Historical
Publisher's Summary:
Born into privilege to one of the last Ottoman pashas, beautiful, spirited Selva is the brightest jewel in her fathers household - until she falls in love with Rafael Alfandari. Though Turkey has long been a safe haven for Jews, marriage between a high-ranking Muslim girl and a Jewish boy is strictly forbidden. Yet young love will not be denied, and Selva and Rafael defy their parents and marry, fleeing to Paris in hopes of a better life - only to find themselves trapped in the path of the invading Nazis.
But in the midst of darkness shines a beacon of hope: A handful of courageous Turkish diplomats, protected only by the tenuous neutrality of their homeland, hatch a daring plot to spirit the exiled lovers and hundreds of innocent Jews to safety. Together, they will traverse a war-torn continent, crossing enemy lines and risking everything in one last, desperate bid for freedom.
Critic Reviews:
"Aye Kulin is a clever writer. She draws the reader into the story of the life and loves of a Turkish family in wartime, and by the time the reader realizes that she has also cranked up the tension with a rescue plot, it is too late to put the book down unfinished. For aficionados of wartime novels, as well as for anyone glued to his or her seat watching the film Argo, this is a must read." (Helen Bryan, best-selling author of War Brides and The Sisterhood)
Members Reviews:
A disorganized mess.
2 1/2 stars. This book sounded so good. Unfortunately the result is an uncohesive compilation of POVs of more than 14 characters. Many of the vignettes are barely related to the storyline. Most of the characters aren't even likeable. I listened to this book on audiobook and most of the voices are annoying as well. The husbands are all verbally abusive to their wives. One man even rapes his wife. The psyciatrist is especially loathesome. He seduces his patient while psychoanalyzing her. Let me undress you as you tell me about your relationship with your 8 year old daughter. Creepy! Near the end there was suddenly an erotic semi-public scene between two random characters. It was unexpected and made me uncomfortable. I didn't even know these characters so I skipped ahead. Then I discovered it was actually a rape by a random german soldier. Next we had a minor character die in his sleep. Neither of these scenes or characters were really plot pertinate. Finally we come to the finale we have all beeen waiting for. The relief of safety and the long awaited reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get reuniting of estranged families. Except it cuts off before you get closure. A book full of background details of minor characters fails to provide details of the resolution of the main plot and characters. It was unsatisfying.
3-Stars
Last Train To Istanbul is a beautiful work of historical fiction about two privileged Muslim Turkish sistersSelva and Sabiha. Sabiha marries a prominent Turkish diplomat, and Selva falls in love and marries a Turkish JewRafael Alfandari. Selva and Rafael are shunned by her family, and move to Paris shortly before the Nazi German invasion in World War II.
What I really appreciated about this novel was Ayse Kulins extensive research about that period of history, and I loved to learn about WWII from a Turkish perspective. Its a beautiful story of hope and courage.