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Last Letter from Istanbul: Escape with this epic holiday read of secrets and forbidden love

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I also found the tone of the book a little pretentious at times. I don’t know what it was exactly that bothered me; I think it was just trying too hard to be this piece of great literary fiction but it did not succeed. The writing got quite convoluted and irritating at times. From beginning to end, this story had captured my heart. I felt broken at its end. This book will leave its mark on you: it's brave, heartbreakingly ordinary, and yet altogether timeless in its delicate exploration of a history that is not as lovely as you first think. Enjoy this: let yourself be swept away.

Last Letter from Istanbul by Lucy Foley - Fantastic Fiction Last Letter from Istanbul by Lucy Foley - Fantastic Fiction

It’s a time of uncertainty: there are occupation forces on the streets, refugees arriving on a daily basis and everyone’s hustling to survive. Despite that, for Nur it’s also a time of increased freedom: she can go out to work as a teacher, substituting for her brother who went off to war and hasn’t returned, and she no longer needs to wear the veil when leaving the house. But this freedom is new and not without limitations: she sees the disapproving looks as she walks the streets of her city, and knows that she can only push against long-held customs and norms so much. In terms of characters, I didn’t really feel like any of them were very fleshed out. I didn’t feel invested in their lives and found them all to be forgettable. I felt totally apathetic towards them all. Wir schreiben das Jahr 1921. Istanbul ist nach dem Krieg von Besatzern überlaufen. Die einst so schöne und lebendige Stadt wirkt nun grau und traurig. Viele Familien haben Verluste zu beklagen und mussten ihr Heim verlassen. Unter anderem Nur und ihre Familie. In ihrem Heim ist jetzt ein Lazarett der Britten eingerichtet. Als es Nur eines Tages dorthin zieht, lernt sie den leitenden Arzt kennen. Es scheint sich eine Art Beziehung anzubahnen, die so nicht sein darf. Also look out for Lucy Foley’s Sunday Times bestselling crime debut, THE HUNTING PARTY, available to buy now.* ‘This will sweep you away for the summer. Lucy Foley blends a rich history, haunting secrets and a timeless love story’ Santa Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Deverill series This will sweep you away for the summer. Lucy Foley blends a rich history, haunting secrets and a timeless love story’ Santa Montefiore, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Deverill series

Last Letter from Istanbul is a compelling and sweeping tale that crosses decades and takes the reader on a captivating journey through the tumultuous history of a nation that has struggled to maintain an identity, a nation that struggles to find peace. The house has been transformed into an army hospital, it is a prize of war in the hands of the British. And as Nur weaves through the streets carrying the embroideries that have become her livelihood, Constantinople swarms with Allied soldiers – a reminder of how far she and her city have fallen. Pg 25 'Sometimes, now, the old life seems as remote as one read about in a book. But this afternoon it seems very close at hand, an assault of memory.' Their uniforms are clean but she sees them drenches in blood. How many men have you killed, she asks, silently….”

Last Letter from Istanbul: Escape with This Epic Holiday Read Last Letter from Istanbul: Escape with This Epic Holiday Read

Now the shadow of war hangs over the city, and Nur lives for the protection of a young boy with a terrible secret. Stumbling through the streets, carrying the embroideries that have become her livelihood, she avoids the gazes of the Allied soldiers. Survival is everything. I enjoy this author's books so much, that I've read three of them in a short period of time. This was the second one and once again an excellent book. Historical fiction with an enticing love element thrown in to keep the romance junkies - or rather, historical romance junkies, close to the story. Lucy Foley writes women fiction. Her work is characterized by women's suffering and well developed male characters. The main theme of her books are the promotion of love without marriage, of single-women independence, without the bondage of marriage. Love is always challenging and relationships is never guaranteed a happy ending. What IS happiness after all, right? History Makers: Female Writers Dominate the 2023 William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award ShortlistThe book did gain a bit of momentum in the final chapters, but not enough to turn my opinion of the book around. Lyrical prose takes the reader on this unbelievable journey of lesser-known history. The prose entice the reader into continuing: for instance, the birds swarming into the garden to feast on the pomegranates, are described as a carnival of sound, a choas of wings. Yet, one desciption had me a little baffled: the water is eloquent. The water talks, babbles, sings, tells a story? At least it made me think. I loved it though. Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Christmas with the Best Drinks Books On The Shelves It takes a while for these strands to come together, but once they do, the story envelops you. It’s as if one of Nur’s embroidered shawls wraps around you, bundling you into the story alongside her. Lucy Foley brings the sights, smells and sounds of Istanbul to life in her writing and evokes an impression of what it was like to be there at this moment in the city’s history; a period I didn’t know much about before reading.

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