10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World
Score Modern
What it's about
In the minutes after her death in an Istanbul dumpster, Tequila Leila's mind keeps working, and each minute brings a vivid memory of her life, from her childhood to her years as a sex worker and the five friends who became her family. Then those friends set out on a daring mission for her.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's a moving tribute to friendship and to the outcasts of Istanbul.
You'll love it if you liked
A Thousand Splendid Suns
The Kite Runner
IstanbulGood to know
It deals with violence and abuse. The second half turns into a caper.
By the numbers
- Readers68 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller20 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz10 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #134 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #627 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1186 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Elif Shafak
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Quick answers
Is 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World worth reading?
Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,186 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World about?
In the minutes after her death in an Istanbul dumpster, Tequila Leila's mind keeps working, and each minute brings a vivid memory of her life, from her childhood to her years as a sex worker and the five friends who became her family. Then those friends set out on a daring mission for her.
How long does it take to read 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World?
About 8 hours (311 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World?
If you liked it, try A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini or Istanbul by Orhan Pamuk.