Ch 19 is one of my favorites so far. Written from the point of view of a gold Venetian coin, I found this perspective to be both creative and amusing. I seem to remember seeing a movie once about a dollar bill--following it's travels through the hands of many people with insight into their stories.
How many times did the coin change hands in during it's last 7 years in Istanbul?
Ch20 Black has an excellent discussion with Enishte about why the new art of portraiture is so frightening. They also talk alot about "shadow."
Can you list a few of the fears they expressed about this new type of painting?
Do you know of any other examples from other cultures/countries/religions that prohibit taking or making human images?
Ch 21 Enishte feels the approach of his own death. He can imagine his death at Black's hands (p112). He fiddles with e Mongol inkpot Black gave him as a present. (p111) He tells Black that the last picture contains a depiction of death. Enishte makes Shekure promise that if he dies, she will make sure the book is finished.
Ch 22 Black reignites his desire for Shekure and realizes that he must come to terms with her sons if he is to marry her.
Ch 23 The murderer begins to feel the sinister ache at the back of his throat. On pg 125, the murderer follows Black and gives us some very revealing information/clues.....
Read the three paragraphs starting with As I watched Black walking..." and complete this sentence......COULD THE MURDERER BE___________________.
Ch 24 A chapter written by death itself. Tellingly, death says the miniaturist who drew him now believes he's become what he has drawn. (128)
Ch 25 Esther tells us (p131) one of her motives for encouraging the love triangle.
What would that be?
How hard a life could you image it would be for a aged widow without family in those times?
Ch 26 Hasan writes Shekure a letter in which he tells her he is going to bring her back to his house. (p136) Shekure agrees to meet Black in the house of the Hanged Jew (p139). Shevket tells his mother that he thinks Black killed his father (p143) Shekure arranges for her sons to be taken out of the house for the day (145). During their meeting in the house of the Hanged Jew, Black finally gets to embrace Shekure (p148)
Ch 27 Shekure ups the ante on Black in their game of love chess.
Shekure wants Black to do 4 things before she will marry him. What are they?
Ch 28 The murderer comes to Enishte's house with forethought and intent (p155) and receives signs that Allah approves of what he is about to do. He gets further encouragement to carry out his task by remembering an interaction with Enishte that happened long ago (p164). The murder admits to Enishte that he killed Elegant (p165).
Ch 29 Enishte is murdered.
8 comments:
How many times did the coin change hands durings its last 7 years in Istanbul?
Over the last seven years in Istanbul, I've changed hands 560 times, and there's not a house, shop, market, bazaar, mosque, church or synagogue I haven't entered.
Can you list a few of the fears they expressed about this new type of painting?
They're attempting to terrify us with their unique faces, eyes bearing and with their clothing whose every fold is defined by shadow. They're attempting to terrify us by being creatures of mystery.
Do you know of any other examples from other cultures/countries/religions that prohibit taking or making human images?
I have heard that the Amish people do not like to have their photo taken. Also some Indian tribes don't want to have their photos taken. I heard something about stealing their souls. I know I could look it up on the internet but right now I am too tired to do so. Also, even in this day there are some people that do not like their pictures taken and shy away from the camera.
Read the three paragraphs starting with As I watched Black walking..." and complete this sentence......COULD THE MURDERER BE___________________.
The murderer could be alsmost anyone. Could it be Black? Butterfly? Stork? Olive? Hasan? The story seems to be leading us to believe it is one of the minaturists. If the book is not leading us down the wrong path to confuse us then the murderer would be Butterfly, Stork, or Olive.
Ch 25 Esther tells us (p131) one of her motives for encouraging the love triangle.
What would that be?
In such situations, making rival suitors jealous of each other will earn Esther the matchmaker more money.
There's nothing I's trade for the pleasure of delivering letters to lovers addled by loneliness or the lack of wife or husband. Even if they're certain of receiving the worst news, when they're about to read the letter, a shudder of hope overcomes them.
How hard a life could you image it would be for a aged widow without family in those times?
I think it would be a difficult life for an aged widow without family in those times as well as in these present times. Age brings needs that require help and hopefully family would be available to offer that help even if the help that is offered is to help the aged person find a suitable home to live in and someone other than family to care for him or her. At least in our present day there are a variety of 'homes' wher the aged can receive such help. That was not available in the middle ages, as far as I know.
Shekure wants Black to do 4 things before she will marry him. What are they?
Shekure wants Black to finish the book her father enlisted him to illustrate, she wants Black to accept her children and care for them, she wants him to live in her father's house so she doesn't have to leave her father alone, and she wants Black to testify that he saw her husband dead in the fields so she can get a divorce from him. She also insists that he wait until they are married before he is intimate with her.
WOW A+++++++ for Jackie!!!!! Great answers. By the way, I just finished the book and I was MORE than disappointed.
Good for you, Jan. Wow! Ray and I both have a ways to go so don't tell us who the murderer is yet, although I would really like to know. Sorry to hear that the ending was a disappointment.
Ray says he feels like throwing a red ink pot at the book. haha
I'm sort of starting to get the feel for it now. So far Shekure is my favorite character. Her and her kids. Ray says his favorite so far is Black. I wonder who would play the characters if this book was ever made into a movie?
Ray and Jackie: I am impressed by your perseverance! I guess when you get to chapter 39 it is just a matter of sheer stubbornness to push through chapter 59. Love the idea of throwing a red ink pot at the book! HA!!! My favorite character is Esther. One thing I can share with you now that I have finished this book is that I don't think the plot is the main objective of this author. Most of what he writes about really doesn't have much to do with the murder plot. I think he desires more to share details with us about Turkey and art in this particular time.
Could you please send me your street address?
And start thinking about selecting our next book. If you don't want to continue the reading blog, just let me know. I've really enjoyed it though!
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