By the time of this post, I’m definitely way past the halfway mark of this book and I anticipate having it completed by the end of the month. However, I still want to cover my thoughts up to the halfway point.
The Silence of Scheherazade by, Defne Suman is a novel about four families (Levantine, Greek, Turkish, Armenian) in the Ottoman Empire, in the Ancient City of Smyrna. The narrative shifts between these families and alludes to the past and the period right after World War I (1922). These families are intertwined and it is told in a way that pieces the narrative together slowly. One of the main questions is, “What happened to Scheherazade and why is she mute?”
The way this novel is constructed is really unique - yes there are a lot of novels out there that are multigenerational and deal with multiple families, but this one has a unique flavor to it that is actually quite difficult to describe. The writing is engaging and the characters are interesting. I find that I do have to really pay attention, as the story shifts between these four families and the past and present are constantly being alluded to - I can see how some people may become slightly confused, but I actually find this to be a pleasant challenge. This novel actually reminds me a bit of A Legacy by, Sybille Bedford that I read this summer. Both of these novels deal with families leading up to WWI, except that A Legacy takes place in Germany. These novels are also mainly being told from the perspective of one of the other character’s child. These narrators are piecing the story together using an interesting blend of their own memories, while recounting the memories and perspectives of others.
It’s extremely evident how the role of memory and how the elusiveness of our memories play integral roles on how narratives reshaped. Look at these two quotes from each book:
The Silence of Scheherazade: “A story is not told with words alone. Dozens, hundreds of minute details compliment the words. Only someone like me, who’s given up words, can know this. Those who speak are always thinking about what they are going to say next; they forget to listen.”
A Legacy: “What I learnt came to me, like everything else in this story, at a second and third hand, in chunks and puzzles, degrees and flashes, by here-say and tale-bearing and being told, by one or two descriptions that meant everything to those who gave to them.”
If you’ve read A Legacy and enjoyed it, you may also enjoy The Silence of Scheherazade and vice versa. If you haven’t read either but are curious to, I actually think they would be really good companion reads.
I was pleasantly surprised with one chapter in particular titled, “The Ghost.” This whole chapter reminded me of Jane Eyre and I’m not sure if Suman did this intentionally, but I really liked the homage.
If you know, you know…
The Silence of Scheherazade thus far is an engaging and unique story. It’s really fascinating to read a novel set in the Ottoman Empire and Suman’s descriptions of the cultures, people, sounds and smells (especially the food) is so evocative. This novel is a slow burn - even at the halfway mark, the story is being priced together so deliberately and Suman is taking her time. Even though this is a slow burn, it is not boring and it doesn’t drag. When I pick this novel up, I don’t want to put it down. I also have no idea how this novel is going to end but I think it might get intense. I’m looking forward to finishing this book - it’s been a really good read so far!
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