Present Books Concering The Oracle of Stamboul
| Original Title: | The Oracle of Stamboul |
| ISBN: | 0062012096 (ISBN13: 9780062012098) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | Stamboul(Turkey) |
Identify Regarding Books The Oracle of Stamboul
| Title | : | The Oracle of Stamboul |
| Author | : | Michael David Lukas |
| Book Format | : | Hardcover |
| Book Edition | : | Special Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 294 pages |
| Published | : | February 8th 2011 by Harper (first published 2011) |
| Categories | : | Historical. Historical Fiction. Fiction. Fantasy. Magical Realism |
Interpretation During Books The Oracle of Stamboul
An elegantly crafted, utterly enchanting debut novel set in a mystical, exotic world, in which a gifted young girl charms a sultan and changes the course of an empire's history
Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair of Tartar midwives who arrive just minutes before her birth. "They had read the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last king had given on his deathwatch." But joy is mixed with tragedy, for Eleonora's mother dies soon after the birth.
Raised by her doting father, Yakob, a carpet merchant, and her stern, resentful stepmother, Ruxandra, Eleonora spends her early years daydreaming and doing housework—until the moment she teaches herself to read, and her father recognizes that she is an extraordinarily gifted child, a prodigy.
When Yakob sets off by boat for Stamboul on business, eight-year-old Eleonora, unable to bear the separation, stows away in one of his trunks. On the shores of the Bosporus, in the house of her father's business partner, Moncef Bey, a new life awaits. Books, backgammon, beautiful dresses and shoes, markets swarming with color and life—the imperial capital overflows with elegance, and mystery. For in the narrow streets of Stamboul—a city at the crossroads of the world—intrigue and gossip are currency, and people are not always what they seem. Eleonora's tutor, an American minister and educator, may be a spy. The kindly though elusive Moncef Bey has a past history of secret societies and political maneuvering. And what is to be made of the eccentric, charming Sultan Abdulhamid II himself, beleaguered by friend and foe alike as his unwieldy, multiethnic empire crumbles?
The Oracle of Stamboul is a marvelously evocative, magical historical novel that will transport readers to another time and place—romantic, exotic, yet remarkably similar to our own.
Rating Regarding Books The Oracle of Stamboul
Ratings: 3.5 From 3213 Users | 784 ReviewsCriticism Regarding Books The Oracle of Stamboul
Update: Kindle $1.99 special today.I read this years ago. I still own a copy of the book. It was sooooo special to me and my daughters. Its an adult book - but young girls would love reading it - or having it read to them. My tiny review from years ago: I don't see anybody writing likes this today. Its my 'FAVORITE' novel of the year ----a very special 'gem' of a story.I am so disappointed. Until the last two chapters of the book, I was captivated by Eleonora's story. Lukas has a gift as a story-teller. He creates interesting characters and his writing is rich in imagery and imagination. The plot he weaves is intricate and evocative. With a background rich in the cultural and political history of Stamboul, the story draws the reader into its web, creating a tension and a feeling that one is moving to an exciting, earth-shattering climax. It's unfortunate,
A magical novel, short but fulfilling; great atmosphere and prose, it just took over my reading from the moment I opened it. I will add the full FBc reviews soon, but so far I would say that the blurb is reasonably accurate but it cannot convey the beautiful writing and magical recreation of a world long gone that the novel manages in a reasonably historical accurate way with hints of the fantastic, though still staying within the possibleAs promised FBC Rv below:INTRODUCTION: The Oracle of
Disappointing DebutIn the year 1877, Eleonora Cohen was ushered into the magnificent and opulent world of the Ottoman Empire to the smell of witch hazel, the sound of thunderous hoof-beats from Russian invaders, the flapping of wings from flocks of mysterious birds, and to the bright flashes of lightening striking. The Tartar midwives holding her up to the sky said she was the long awaited Oracle from a prophecy dictated long ago a by a king upon his deathbed. He foretold there would be a baby
"The Oracle of Stamboul" by Michael David Lukas is not just a novel, it is a literary portal that transports you to the streets of Turkey in the late 1800's. And while you are there, Michael David Lukas takes you on a magical journey - with his beautiful prose, he builds the city around you, surrounds you with the smell of its spices, and the warmth of its people. It is this particular quality in Lukas' writing that really gives this novel its edge. Eleanora Cohen is born to Yakob Cohen on a
This book is like a divine dessert: decadent, delicious, and portioned just enough to make you wish there was another mouthful. Lukas' writing style is playful without being ridiculous (see my Teaser Tuesday for a taste); it's really straight up enjoyable. Pleasurable!The setting is an era that I'm unfamiliar with but find wholly appealing -- 19th century Turkey -- and Lukas offers gorgeous passages that place the reader squarely in Stamboul. There's international intrigue and a host of
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