--- product_id: 129842054 title: "10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World" price: "€ 80.64" currency: EUR in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.hr/products/129842054-10-minutes-38-seconds-in-this-strange-world store_origin: HR region: Croatia --- # 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World **Price:** € 80.64 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World - **How much does it cost?** € 80.64 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.hr](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/129842054-10-minutes-38-seconds-in-this-strange-world) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World: 9780241293867: Shafak, Elif: Books Review: A Modern Scheherazade - I "discovered" Elif Shafak two or three years ago and have read a couple of her books each year since. While I find myself less and less interested in fiction these days (perhaps because much of it isn't great?), I have loved every book of hers that I've read. Even her less-than-best writing is wonderful. Why? She is a phenomenally gifted storyteller; her characters are genuine even when they are far from normal; and her ability to take the reader to a different place and time is dazzling. In this book, the characters of Tequila Leila and her friends are so beautifully drawn (and they are definitely not "normal"), and the city of Istanbul is brilliantly depicted, including great beauty and a large dose of less-then-beautiful as well. The story is beyond engrossing, and the ending is perfect. Ms. Shafak is nothing less than a modern Scheherazade; how lucky we are to have her! Review: Captivating first half, weak second half. - This novel has a very captivating and fresh start and the first half is a pageturner. However the second half loses its momentum and the ending is poor and loose. I'd be more satisfying if the book just stopped in 10'38''. In the second half not only does the plot lose its momentum, but it seems as though the author intentionally attempts to relate the tragic personal story of our protagonist with the history of Istanbul, which is unnecessary to me. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #3,302,047 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) | | Customer Reviews | 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars (12,364) | | Dimensions | 5.43 x 1.06 x 8.03 inches | | ISBN-10 | 0241293863 | | ISBN-13 | 978-0241293867 | | Item Weight | 12.8 ounces | | Language | English | | Print length | 312 pages | | Publication date | January 1, 2019 | | Publisher | Viking | ## Images ![10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/91p1sU5xqEL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Modern Scheherazade *by R***M on February 26, 2026* I "discovered" Elif Shafak two or three years ago and have read a couple of her books each year since. While I find myself less and less interested in fiction these days (perhaps because much of it isn't great?), I have loved every book of hers that I've read. Even her less-than-best writing is wonderful. Why? She is a phenomenally gifted storyteller; her characters are genuine even when they are far from normal; and her ability to take the reader to a different place and time is dazzling. In this book, the characters of Tequila Leila and her friends are so beautifully drawn (and they are definitely not "normal"), and the city of Istanbul is brilliantly depicted, including great beauty and a large dose of less-then-beautiful as well. The story is beyond engrossing, and the ending is perfect. Ms. Shafak is nothing less than a modern Scheherazade; how lucky we are to have her! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Captivating first half, weak second half. *by S***U on February 10, 2024* This novel has a very captivating and fresh start and the first half is a pageturner. However the second half loses its momentum and the ending is poor and loose. I'd be more satisfying if the book just stopped in 10'38''. In the second half not only does the plot lose its momentum, but it seems as though the author intentionally attempts to relate the tragic personal story of our protagonist with the history of Istanbul, which is unnecessary to me. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stunning! *by M***S on February 11, 2021* “10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in This Strange World”, by Elif Shafak, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2019, and won several “Book of the Year” prizes; I can see why! What a wonderfully unique and exceptional novel. You know that old saying when people recount a near-death experience: “My Whole Life Passed Before My Eyes!” Well this is the story of the 10 minutes and 38 seconds after “Tequila” Leila, a prostitute in Istanbul, has been murdered and left in a dumpster. Her dying brain recalls her whole life in those minutes. We learn how she got where she is, and we learn about the lives of her five best friends, and we learn a lot about what being a female in Turkey was like in the 1950s through 1990 (spoiler alert: not great). The last third of the novel is about Leila’s five friends and how they intend to honor her after her death. It’s a beautiful (and thrilling!) story of friends who become family. This unusual structure for a “flash-back” story worked incredibly well! Leila’s life, though full of horrific abuses and some plain bad luck, was also full of loving and loyal friends. I highly recommend this fascinating and beautifully written award-worthy novel. ## Frequently Bought Together - 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World - The Island of Missing Trees: A Novel - The Forty Rules of Love (HB) --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.hr/products/129842054-10-minutes-38-seconds-in-this-strange-world](https://www.desertcart.hr/products/129842054-10-minutes-38-seconds-in-this-strange-world) --- *Product available on Desertcart Croatia* *Store origin: HR* *Last updated: 2026-04-25*