Book review: Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak

Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak (first published in 2016 by Viking, an imprint Penguin Random House)

I fell in love with Elif Shafak’s writing when I read “The Bastard of Istanbul.” Her stories carry incredibly rich plots with deep characters that make you think about life.

Those books are the ones you want to read over and over again because not only do you learn about the world, but about yourself too. Once again, Three Daughters of Eve is set primarily in Istanbul, but the book takes you on many twists and turns.  

You move across different decades and cities.  The parts in Oxford University is where the story really takes hold.

The tale follows the friendship between three women: Shirin, Peri and Mona.  During a course on God, which certainly coloured outside the lines, these unlikely friends formed a very tight bond and shared a house.

One was reckless and rebellious, the other a true believer, and then there was one who rode the line, unsure of where she stood.

Peri looks back as an older woman. She is now married, rich and a mother.  One serendipitous day she discovers an old photo of her and these two close friends, along with their professor.

 It sparks ancient memories that she tried so hard to forget.  The story that ripped the friendship apart and threatened all they believed.

It’s a beautiful journey that covers aspects of identity, religion and feminism.  It’s a perfect book for our times and one that every woman should own.

Read more of Michelle’s reviews on herblog.

Purchase a copy of the book from Takealot.com.

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