My book review of '10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World' by Elif Shafak

by Elif Shafak

A beautiful cover and a slim volume belying the scope of this astonishing story.

Leila has been killed but before she loses consciousness, she has 10 minutes 38 seconds where she relives key moments in her short life.

As her life drains away, we experience something of those moments - the vivid colours, smells, tastes, and also the deep friendships she has enjoyed despite the sad, tragic events.

The humour in this book despite the horror of all that Leila has experienced is amazing. And the final passages where her friends seek to provide a fitting setting for her body is almost another book entirely.

It's a book to reread, and slowly, cherishing each word, sentence, description. Wonderful!

Date of this review: November 2019