Madonna in a Fur Coat: Sabahattin Ali (Penguin classics)

One of my favourite books that i will not stop recommending to people throughout my life; So beautifully written and thought. Arrived in great condition too.

the story conveyns the depth and complexity of human mind and feelings, mystery of love, doubts and loneliness.Wonderful description of life in Berlin at that time and also of what Turkey was like at that period. Still the reader .left with many questions: Why Raif Efendi, a clever man, is so indecisive and shy? Why his eyes filled with tears every time he is unhappy or somebody is kind to him?

This is not a happy feel-good book but it is a book that deals with the marrow of life. The power of love and the ineffable fragility of life . To write like this requires an artist author: an observer of the essence of life. An unforgettable book - recommended to me by an 18 year old hotel concierge in Istanbul who wanted to converse so that he could practise his English and I could get insight into Turkish culture = serendipity

A well written, bittersweet love story that would be wonderful as a short story, but is too full of existential angst for my taste.

Please read it

This is a slow, precise account of one man, Raif Efendi as told by one of his colleagues. If the quality of a novel is based on the quality of the characterisation, then this is certainly a sure-fire hit. Raif is seemingly a nondescript man who makes no attempt to make friends or court popularity. Mocked by shallow juniors at work and derided by many members of his family, he barely seems to exist. Turkish life of the period enhances the bleak descriptions of the period. The story is told by a colleague who barely knows Raif, and that too adds a cold irony to the storytelling. Yet when Raif dies in poverty-stricken circumstances surrounded by bickering family, his diary comes to light. At this point, we have an elegiac flashback told in Raif's own words: sadness, pain and longing infuse this tale of a seemingly soulless man. A book to haunt the reader long after the last page.

Madonna in a Fur Coat is a beautiful gender role flipped tragic romance about a woman who says she's 'like a man' and the soft, emotional man who adores her. I really loved this book and read it in a day, hurrying to get to the end to find out what happened to Raif and Maria. I so enjoyed the book I listened to the audiobook too. Philip Arditti invests the text with pitch perfect emotion from Maria's fierce speeches to Raif's anxiety, even an audible smile of delight a key moment without ever overwhelming the text. I'd love to hear Arditti narrate more audiobooks.

Great book.

One of my favourite love stories. Simply written, with a simple story, but captivating none the less.

Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali is a quiet, deeply moving novel that lingers long after you finish reading. The story tells us about Raif Efendi, a man whose past reveals a deep, life-changing love in 1920s Berlin. Through his colleague’s eyes, one can see how people are easily misunderstood. Raif Efendi comes across as unremarkable and distant at first. As the story unfolds, you see the depth of his character. His time in 1920s Berlin, and his connection with Maria Puder form the heart of the story. Alongside him is the unnamed narrator, his colleague and friend, who becomes an important aspect in how we understand and see Raif. At first, the narrator thinks of Raif the same way everyone does, but later his perception shifts. This change adds another layer to the story, making the readers more curious about Raif. The portrayal of love makes the book stand out. It shows how two people can feel deeply for each other and still not be destined to be together. There is no clear reason to blame, which makes the story feel even more real. Raif’s journey feels both heartbreaking and enduring, as he carries his past quietly into the rest of his life. This is a story about love, loss, and the silent weight people carry.

I’m so in love with this book!! As you can see, I took it everywhere with me to read it :)

le livre et la couverture est un peu abimée

Türkçesini okumuştum ama çevirisini merak ettiğim için ve tabi İngilizce öğretmeni olarak karşılaştırma yapmak için satın aldım. Uygun fiyata da almış oldum. Çevirisi çok güzel. Türkçesini anlamak daha zor olabilir genç okurlar için.