After a very satisfying January where I managed to read five books (I wrapped up the Lunar Chronicles) I’ll be slowing down this month. With that thought in mind I picked up Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World. I’ve read two of her books and really enjoyed them. If this one is anything like them I know I’ll want to read it slowly, savouring every page, every word.
Here’s a quote I loved.
“But human memory resembles a late-night reveller who has had a few too many drinks: hard as it tries, it just cannot follow a straight line. It staggers through a maze of inversions, often moving in dizzying zigzags, immune to reason and liable to collapse altogether.”
– Elif Shafak, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World
I’m just about fifty pages into the book and I’m loving the way Shafak uses her analogies. I specially liked this one, apart from that last bit about ‘collapsing altogether’. The memory box is easy to open but tough to close and it doesn’t really ‘collapse’ for me.
I am, however, in whole-hearted agreement about memories zigzagging all over the place. They never do follow a simple pattern. In fact, the same memory may take two very different directions if it comes to us at two different times. In one of my earlier posts on my other blog I’d said I store memories in my head the way I store my earrings – in one big jumble – so that when I pick out one I have no clue which ones may come out dangling along with it.
Have you come across an unusual analogy during your reading?
Have you read any of Elif Shafak’s works?
Do share the quote if you have, and join me for #BookBytes.
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Beat About The Book 
I haven’t read any of this author’s books, but I have picked one out for Shalini’s reading with Muffy challenge for this month – 40 Rules of Love. Fingers crossed I love it as much as almost-everyone else.
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Oh I hope you do like it – that’s the best one.
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Oh, I forgot to post my bookbytes post this Tuesday. I had planned something. Next time.
This is so true! Memories take you to so many different paths. And sometimes you end up thinking of something totally different {from where it started}. I love your earrings analogy. And I love this play of words.
I have heard a lot about this author but haven’t read any of her book yet.
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I love it when you say that you store your memories the way you store your earrings; you never know which one will come dangling along with the one you pick! How beautiful!
I loved the analogy shared by the writer, too, but I loved yours more! ❤
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Elif Shafak is love!
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I have honestly never read this author but your paragraph (and that unique title!) does intrigue me… which work would you recommend I read first
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I love your analogy of he earrings even better Tulika – that is how its for me too and always I end up with 2 more of another pair but never the one I want 😉 I have been wanting to read this book and this would be my 4th Elif Shafak. I wasnt thrilled with the ones I read after Forty rules of Love and am really hoping this one is up to the mark
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I have read Eli Shafak’s 40 rules of love and I would say I didn’t just read it but I got immersed in it not wanting to come out of it. I was not aware of this book – 10 minutes and 38 seconds in a strange world. Going by your praise for this one, I will add it to my mental TBR list.
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