|
The novel My Name is Red starts with a murder,
The novel My Name is Red starts with a murder, told by the murdered person, the miniature artist - himself! The reader realizes from the very beginning - and after reading the contents - that this novel gives voices to unusual characters: dead people, animals and objects. Since there are so many characters speaking, the structure of the novel is somewhat complicated, but with the chapter titles one can easily follow the story.
Actually there are two stories: the murder case and a love story. The hero Kara has come back to his hometown Istanbul in order to settle there and find a wife. His uncle Enishte invites him to visit and asks him to try to solve the murder. Enishte is involved with the book making that is a bit risky: the chosen miniature artists try to make a book for the city ruler with western touch so that the book can be sent to Venice. Pamuk describes thoroughly the tradition of miniature art. In the novel there are lots of fascinating stories of the characters and events the pictures describes. Some of the stories remind me of Kalevala, the Finnish epic story about the heroes and heroines of the past. I guess that this novel opens better to the reader who is more familiar with the Turkish stories.
Kara agrees to help Enishte because investigating the murder will give him chance to visit Enishte's house and try to see Shekure, Enishte's daughter. Kara has been in love with Shekure and he wishes to meet her again. Shekure is living with her two sons at her father's because her husband went to the battlefield and is now missing. Shekure wishes to get a husband who would be also a good father to her sons.
According the customs Shekure is staying mainly at home and cannot go around in the city, but that won't stop her acting. Shekure uses all the means to get either Kara or Hasan, her brother-in-law. Her messages are carried around by Esther. Jewish Esther sells fabrics and other stuff to the women of the city and same time carries messages, tells gossips and even organizes marriages. Esther was one of my favourite characters in the novel: during her trips around the city the reader gets colourful image of the life.
The murder is difficult to solve although there are only three suspects, the three other miniature artists involved with the secret book. Before the end another murder is needed. The murderer sneaks in the Enishte's and kills him, too. The motive for both murders is the book. There are some religious fanatics around who would be interested of the book which don't follow the tradition and which might even be against the faith. Through the novel the meaning of the art and the artist is discussed. The concept of style seems to be very important, and the personal way of drawing a detail is the key to find the murderer. The master Osman - the master of the miniature studio - is helping Kara, but only because they were threatened: either they find the murderer or they shall be tortured.
Kara finally success to achieve what he wanted, normal life in Istanbul. Both stories end happily, but with bittersweet touch. In the novel there were several chapters describing the surroundings and events that were like dollying in films. I think this novel would make good film: the story, the characters and specially the setting.
|
o AJK kotisivu
o Pamuk