The Black Book by Maureen Freely, Orhan Pamuk (2006, Paperback)

Not to use a lot of platitudes, but this book is one of intrigue, edge of your seat suspense, and all around amazing writing-- it's the kind of thing that's so rare to find in the literary world: a popular work that takes your breath away!

Columbo is Columbo, Nancy Drew (though one of my faves) is still Nancy at a distance. Orhan Pamuk's Galip is something altogether different. We're inside his head--every bit of self-doubt, loathing, recrimination--every bit of passionate love!

And Pamuk is an award winning author who deserves each and every accolade he's received. Turkish history is recorded here in such a way that the reader comes away educated without feeling as though they've sat through anything tedious.

And as gimmicks go, the every-other-chapter newspaper column is so stylistic that it balances Galip's interior monologue well. If you love to read, buy this book. If you don't, buy this book. Whatever you do, buy this book!!