A Booker Prize-shortlisted masterpiece exploring a woman’s final 10 minutes and 38 seconds of consciousness as vivid memories of friendship, love, and survival in Istanbul’s margins flood her dying mind.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World opens with Tequila Leila lying dead on the outskirts of Istanbul. Her heart has stopped, but her brain remains active for exactly 10 minutes and 38 seconds. In those final moments, her consciousness floods with vivid memories—childhood in a conservative family, escape to Istanbul’s streets, painful betrayals, fierce friendships, and the chosen family who gave her life meaning.
Elif Shafak crafts an intimate, powerful portrait of a sex worker whose humanity shines through every recalled moment. The novel gives voice to marginalized communities with extraordinary empathy and dignity, exploring themes of memory, survival, friendship, and social exclusion.
Why This Novel Matters
Booker Prize Recognition: Shortlisted 2019 for one of literature’s most prestigious awards
Innovative Narrative: Unique structure exploring consciousness at the moment of death
Istanbul Come Alive: The city becomes a vivid, breathing character
Social Commentary: Powerful tribute to outsiders and found family
International Acclaim: By award-winning British-Turkish novelist translated into 50+ languages
Book Specifications
Author: Elif Shafak Publisher: Penguin Books Published: 2019 Pages: 320 Binding: Paperback ISBN: 9780241293874 Language: English Condition: Quality used book
