My Name is Red...a review

Orhan Pamuk's magnum opus My Name is Red beautifully illustrates the contradictions that Islam is seized with currently using a part historical, part fictional narrative. Using the art of miniature painting as an allegory for the moderate views of Islam, he juxtaposes the arguments in favour of modernity alongside the arguments in favour of preserving the roots of Islamic culture over generations. These arguments beautifully capture the fracture lines in most religions in the world today between embracing change and maintaining a distinct identity. Pamuk deliberately equivocates and lets the reader make up his mind without imposing his opinion on the story-one of a rare breed of authors who doesnt let his views cloud the way the story unfolds. The denouement of the story is well worth the wait although the book is a tad too long for most readers. Definitely a book to savour over a long time and is not for the faint hearted reader.