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The Janissary Tree ('Yashim the Eunuch' Mystery) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jason Goodwin
Creator: Andrew Sachs
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Category: Book
List Price: £15.99
Buy New: £9.33
You Save: £6.66 (42%)
New (15) Used (2) from £9.33
Rating:  18 reviews
Sales Rank: 237394
Format: Audiobook
Media: Audio CD
Edition: Abridged Ed
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 5.4 x 4.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0571240321
EAN: 9780571240326
ASIN: 0571240321
Publication Date: July 3, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Condition: BRAND NEW and IN STOCK - dispatched within 48 hours from the UK
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| Customer Reviews: Read 13 more reviews...
 Assumes you have a great deal of background knowledge July 19, 2008
Yashim the Eunuch is called in the help investigate the murder of a young concubine in the Sultan's harem and also the assumed abduction of four young cadets from the New Guard (the Ottoman Armed Forces.) The book starts well enough but it was disconcerting that the author appeared to assume that the reader would come to the novel with prior knowledge. I thought this book would be an interesting murder-mystery and that I would learn something about a period of history I know nothing about. Instead, I became lost in the many references to historical events; the differing roles of the characters; and how the general hierarchy had significance.
The characterisation is also quite poor. The reason why Yashim is approached to investigate is never explained satisfactorily and then one-dimensional characters are introduced and never referred to again. The plot isn't too bad, but between the more interesting chapters there are a number of sections that drag.
I am willing to admit that I might not have enjoyed this book as much as I could have because of my lack of knowledge; but this would have easily been remedied by the inclusion of an author's note or short glossary. After all the hype and the awards, this was a real disappointment.
 Somehow doesn't quite hit the mark October 24, 2007
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Much like some of your other recent reviewers, I was expecting to really enjoy this book but it was just so slow. I see that Jason Goodwin is a historian originally and this reads exactly like a history book of 19th century Istanbul with a bit of a story layered on top. The atmosphere and history are indeed fascinating but I'd had enough by the middle of the book and I think he needs to up his pace a little (or a lot!). An interesting idea for a central character however and definite potential for the future.
 Turkish Delight August 29, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
Let me start by saying this is a jolly good read - and a great book to take on holiday to a Turkish beach, especially if you are off on a trip to Istanbul as part of your visit.
I read it within three days of starting it - I was quickly dragged into the story and the pace builds up to a nice `want to know' ending.
If you are 'into' the Historical detective story, this is almost as good as it gets. Plenty of historically accurate detail - the sort of `everyday detail' needed to spice up the story - food, clothing, buildings.
And the essential characters are there: The not quite accepted by anyone `detective'; the manipulative bad-guy; an exotic beautiful temptress; and a tart-with-a-heart with a difference (one of my favourite characters I have to say).
What this is is firmly `escapist' - but with a slightly educational twist - I did get a sense of what Istanbul must have been like, and a sense of the origins of the modern Turkish dilemma between secularism and tradition. If at times the writing felt too worthy, it only lasted a short time and we were soon back chasing fire-raisers through the seedy streets.
This is not Orhan Pamuk - but it isn't meant to be.
Pleasant but too slow paced August 17, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
The story is slightly too convoluted for me, with a lot of political implications. The athmospheres of 19th century Istambul are fascinating, as is the central charachter, Yashim, yet I found the pace of the story a little too slow, and not as gripping as I was expecting.
Nice travelogue, poorly developed characters. August 13, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
If you love Istanbul, you'll enjoy the deft way the author weaves in the many memorable and meaningful sights, sounds, and smells of the city in to this second-rate mystery. He is obviously in love with the Ottoman Empire and with Turkish Istanbul -- Constantinople to the Greeks who founded Byzantium 15 centuries earlier. He is cheap with praise for any precursor to the Turkish achievements in Istanbul, incorrectly implying that they sprang up, full grown, over night (and by their own efforts). I guess novelists don't have to be concerned with truth. The Turks are all talented, smart, and cultured; everyone else is not. The characters in general are two dimensional. The significance of Yashim as a eunuch, for example, is never really clear. Why? What does it mean? How is he able to fulfill his role, his destiny, better or worse as a result of this fact? And of course there is no mention of the legendary cruelty that the Turks showed toward their minorities (and still do). Still, for those who love history in this part of the world, it is an interesting read.
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