Birds Without Wings

I don't know why I would ever care or be interested in a little Turkish village on the cusp of WWI - but De Bernieres made me care! He created a story I couldn't wait to get back to reading every night. His characters were well constructed and everything about his writing was wonderful; his descriptions, pacing, plot development - you know a great writer when you read one. The themes in the novel of friendship and war are so universally human, to see how they enfold among a small, remote Turkish village was fascinating - mainly because they were so identifiable despite cultural differences. The village's history of peaceful co-existence among different religions/cultures served as a wonderful example of the best part of our humanity; and the war that ended that idyll, the worst part. <br />All in all - a really engrossing read that I would highly recommend. If you liked "Corelli's Mandolin" - you'll love this.

This is a truly great novel. It is set in Western Turkey in the early 20th century and concerns the events surrounding the first world war, the break-up and eventual dissolution of the Ottoman empire, and the effect that this has on the everyday inhabitants of a small town. <br /> <br />The story opens in Eskibahce and we are drawn into daily life through a series of anecdotes and tales told through the eyes of its various inhabitants. As the book progresses, the scene is cut more frequently to the historical events that are taking place, and as the book reaches its climax, we find ourselves totally engrossed in the war: the geopolitical struggles, the nationalist politics, the struggle between Greeks and Turks, and life in the trenches at Gallipoli. <br /> <br />The book achieves a superb balance between its gripping description of the history and politics of the time, and its equally gripping personal dramas being played out in this context. It explains the great tragedy that results ultimately in the deportation of the Turkish Greeks, with its attendant destruction of whole communities, the terrible consequences to individuals, and even the break-up of individual families. <br /> <br />To call this an "historical novel" is to understate the quality of the story-telling. There is some wonderful narrative here: the book creates its own folklore, marvellous tales, funny stories, sad stories, shocking stories, all embedded in this steam-rollering march of historical inevitability. We also meet some marvelous characters, who become like old friends as they come back time and again to contribute their little piece of the story. And here is another beautifully-executed technique - the stories overlap, as told by different people and seen from different points of view. In the mind of the reader is built a much richer experience of events when seen from so many different angles. <br /> <br />It's one of those books that is satisfying and interesting right from the outset. You know you are not going to be disappointed. It's just as well because it is 625 pages long! However, it's original, it's intelligent, it's informative, and it's one of those books that you must not miss. <br />

I just finished this book a few minutes ago and was going to write in a blog about it. I came here to get the Amazon link for the blog and started reading the reviews. This is my first review after years of as one reviewer called it "mooching" off everyone else. The worst review here is titled "thumbs down" I must disagree. I have returned from a recent trip to Turkey, my first and my first to a Muslim country. I cannot get this country out of my thought, I will return! A friend here, a beautiful Turkish woman who spent the first 20 years of her life in Turkey recommended I read this book. I cannot sing the praises of this book enough. You can read the other reviews to get a sense of the story. It is beautifully meaningful to the times we live in. There is a poem just after the dedication which I will quote here. It is written by Spyros Kyriazopoulos a Greek. It is a brilliant selection to begin this poignantly sad and beautifully written story..... "The Cat" <br />She was licking-----------the opened tin-----------for hours and hours-----------------without realising----------that she was drinking-------------her own blood. ***** Incredible, a must read! *****

"If war is holy then God is not" - that is the main lesson and the premise of the book. This epic historical novel loosely traces history of the inhabitants of remote village in the crumbling Ottoman empire. Notably of two boys, Karatavuk and Mehmetcik. Best friends, whose life paths separate them in adolescence, in part because one is a Christian boy, while the other one is Muslim. It appears that in this village these two religions are intermingle, as locals tend to put bets on both sides. Numerous other characters stream through pages of the book, reach and powerful aga Rustem Bay, beautiful Philothei, merchants, husbands and wives. All are pushed by the forces beyond anyones control. Forces of ambitious and proud man like Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, future founder of the Turkish Republic, European powers bent on carving new boundaries in WWI. All this, through the hellish battles of first of world war, results in most disturbing separation of former neighbors, for all Christian are declared to be Greek and moved accordingly to their new home. The cruelty of these wholesale relocations is most appalling and most damaging to both new Turks and this new "Greeks". As book moves forward in time sadness overcomes the reader, for we realize utter futility and worthlessness of lives lost in the great straggle of faceless forces. As grains of sand, all the millions of humans swept away on most brutal battle fields, never to be remembered. The stories of villagers are truly heart breaking and yet uplifting, for they show that compassion is accessible to all.

The author is right, the simple people no mater where we are on earth, are birds without wings and are chased by eagles and vultures. The book seizes you from the beginning to the end. Time seemed to be stopped as soon as I begun reading the book until I finished it. The depth of the analysis of the author is unbelievably realistic and unbiased both about historical events as well as the portrayal of the characters and their emotions. I suggest that everyone should read this exceptional book to rediscover the value of peace, friendship and love.