Shafak holds a PhD in political science and she has taught at various universities in Turkey, the US and the UK. She has also taught at St Anne’s College, Oxford University, where she is an honorary fellow.
When you think of Elif Shakak books, you’re probably most likely to think of her bestselling fiction novels but she has also written nonfiction books.
I love Elif Shafak books. Her writing is so beautiful and lyrical, her stories take on an almost otherwordly feel to them. There’s such warmth and wisdom to her stories and 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World in particular had such a lasting impression on me. She has a knack for tackling complex and emotional subjects with sensitivity and warmth.
What awards has Elif Shafak won?
Many of Elif Shafak’s books have received critical acclaim and have been shortlisted for various prizes. The Island of Missing Trees was shortlisted for the Costa Award, RSL Ondaatje Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction.
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World, meanwhile, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and RSL Ondaatje Prize. It was also Blackwell’s Book of the Year.
Does Elif Shafak have a new book out?
Elif Shafak’s latest novel, There Are Rivers in the Sky is due to be published in August 2024.
This book intertwines the lives of characters across different time periods and locations, ranging from ancient Mesopotamia to modern-day London and Turkey. King Ashurbanipal’s great library in Nineveh serves as a central point, with the emergence of the Epic of Gilgamesh tying together the narratives.
From Arthur’s struggles in 1840s London to Narin’s challenges in 2014 Turkey and Zaleekah’s journey of self-discovery in 2018 London, the story explores themes of hardship, resilience, and the enduring power of literature to shape lives across generations and cultures.
In the first minute following her death, Tequila Leila’s consciousness began to ebb, slowly and steadily, like a tide receding from the shore…’
For Leila, each minute after her death recalls a sensuous memory: spiced goat stew, sacrificed by her father to celebrate the birth of a yearned-for son; bubbling vats of lemon and sugar to wax women’s legs while men are at prayer; the cardamom coffee she shares with a handsome student in the brothel where she works. Each fading memory brings back the friends she made in her bittersweet life – friends who are now desperately trying to find her . . .
Two teenagers, Kostas and Defne, find themselves drawn together in a forbidden love amidst the backdrop of a taverna on their shared home of Cyprus. Hidden beneath the vibrant surroundings of garlic, chili peppers, and honeysuckle, their affection blossoms alongside a fig tree that silently witnesses their clandestine meetings and eventual separations. As war ravages their island home and the teenagers vanish, the fig tree remains, a silent sentinel of their lost love.
later, Kostas returns as a botanist, ostensibly searching for native species but truly seeking to rediscover his long-lost connection with Defne. Meanwhile, in London, Ada Kazantzakis finds solace and connection in a fig tree growing in her backyard, her only link to the island of Cyprus and her family’s complex history. Through the fig tree, Ada grapples with her identity and unravels generations of secrets as she navigates her place in the world.
Summary
This is the complete list of Elif Shafak books in order! I’ll keep this list updated as and when she releases new books.
