The Red-Haired Woman: A novel Hardcover – Deckle Edge, August 22, 2017

This is an uneven book, headlined by a woman who is both muse and victim to the reenactment of a mythological murder. The first section of the book is narrated by a young adolescent who apprentices to a master well digger. It's the most effective and effortlessly written part of the book. The narrative sags a bit in the middle, and the end -- which is in a different voice altogether -- doesn't work well at all. The myths interwoven with the protagonists' own lives are terrific, and Pamuk is a gifted writer. I loved the description of a changing Turkey with its losses to modernization. I suppose this is a mix of Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling and Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment, with some Freud thrown in. It's a lot to juggle, and Pamuk drops a ball now and then. But this is a worthy read.

I like most of Orhan Pamuk's books, but not all. The one that I liked most was his first, which, unfortunately was never translated. The Red-Haired Woman is one that I liked a lot. It is an extremely gently sad psychological novel of the affair between a Turkish man who in an exhibition in Berlin falls in love with the portrait of a red-haired woman which he cannot stop to come and watch every day. The woman noticing his behavior becomes friendly with him and then in love. But getting pregnant in the relationship stops seeing him .The man sadly returns to Turkey..

Good story, but sometimes dwelled on the well construction and site too much. Good description of a country in transition to a new era and growth.

Very easy read. Well translated. The trajectory of the narrative was clear and few surprises after you understand the powerful effects Pahuk is attempting to create out of ancient myths. Specifically Oedipus. However the characters are mostly stock and none really grab you emotionally. He could have done much more with the red haired woman herself.

Good book! It's beautifully woven and I love the development of the tale and of human fascination and obsession. It reminds you to be careful of what you obsess over, for it may just come true.

Pamuk’s genuiosity amazes once again. Weaving an amazing modern adaption of Oedipus with his nostalgia for old Istanbul, he creates an amazing mythical story of historical political snapshot, cultural conflicts and an amazing face off with an unspoken side of humanness. A book that is impossible to put down and one that would leave you sleepless once you got to the last page.

Well written and well translated. A moving story about fathers and sons.

Not one of Pamuk's masterpieces, but provides an enjoyable reading experience nonetheless. Sadly, the literary parallelisms with the tale of Rostam and Sohrab from the Shahnameh and Oedipus Rex are blatant and unsophisticated. One cannot escape the didactic tone of this work, although the narrative is indeed compelling.

I enjoyed this book in part but not so much as I did A Strangeness in my Mind and others. Reading Orhan Pamuk becomes a sort of obsession and one begins to see Istanbul through his eyes and those of his protagonists, left gasping for air amongst all the undercurrents, the evolution of place and people in a city we thought we knew from his earlier work. The explosive urban growth and the internal migration to Istanbul is a dominant theme and it is interesting to learn how quickly Istanbul and its people changed. To be honest the Oedipus thread entwined with that of the Shanamenh is interesting but in the end one feels it is contrived.

Another story by Mr. Orhan Pamuk that’s taking you to the depths of your soul.

A truly captivating tale by this wonderful writer who weaves his words like a thread through your mind and soul.

This was my first Pahuk book. I read for my book club. Other group members said it was not Pahuk's best. Overall the story is slightly contrived but I still loved it - particularly the descriptions of Istanbul and the way it has changed. Definitely worth reading

Liked references to Greek stories and the way the stories intertwined. Difficult to understand why the poor well digger was left in the well.