Last Train to Istanbul cover art

Last Train to Istanbul

A Novel

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Last Train to Istanbul

By: Ayşe Kulin John, John W. Baker - translator
Narrated by: Sanjiv Jhaveri
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About this listen

Born into privilege to one of the last Ottoman pashas, beautiful, spirited Selva is the brightest jewel in her father’s household - until she falls in love with Rafael Alfandari. Though Turkey has long been a safe haven for Jews, marriage between a high-ranking Muslim girl and a Jewish boy is strictly forbidden. Yet young love will not be denied, and Selva and Rafael defy their parents and marry, fleeing to Paris in hopes of a better life - only to find themselves trapped in the path of the invading Nazis.

But in the midst of darkness shines a beacon of hope: A handful of courageous Turkish diplomats, protected only by the tenuous neutrality of their homeland, hatch a daring plot to spirit the exiled lovers and hundreds of innocent Jews to safety. Together, they will traverse a war-torn continent, crossing enemy lines and risking everything in one last, desperate bid for freedom.

©2002 Ayşe Kulin (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc. 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Multicultural War & Military War Romance Imperialism Middle East Ottoman Empire Refugee Military Middle ages

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Critic reviews

"Ayşe Kulin is a clever writer. She draws the reader into the story of the life and loves of a Turkish family in wartime, and by the time the reader realizes that she has also cranked up the tension with a rescue plot, it is too late to put the book down unfinished. For aficionados of wartime novels, as well as for anyone glued to his or her seat watching the film Argo, this is a must read." (Helen Bryan, best-selling author of War Brides and The Sisterhood)
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brilliant story about our ability to do some good, to make good decisions and stand against evil in whatever ways we can

last train

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I enjoyed this book more then I expected to! Hard to put down, real pleasure to listen.

Great book with gripping plot

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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes. Story is quite captivating and intriguing. Although some characters did not really have development, e.g. Sabiha. It feels like it was cut short.

Would you be willing to try another book from Ayse Kulin? Why or why not?

Yes. I already have another book from her, so will be reading/listening to that next.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Sometimes the reading was a bit fast, and at the beginning it was a bit monotonous, but the pace and the style changed at the end.

If this book were a film would you go see it?

No. I don't think it would be done well in the cinema, unless they tie the loose ends.

Interesting story

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I have really been enjoying listening to this audiobook. Great narration and a fantastic storyline.

fantastic story, Clear and enthusiastic narration,

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overall it is an interesting book, captivating. the narrator was a bit weird with the different accents and high voice for women.
would still recommend

Interesting story, weird performance

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absolutely brilliant totally breathtaking and perfect, well narrated and the writer uses such delicious prose

magnifique

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loved this book and the presentation. Didn't want it to end. It was very moving.

A book not to be missed

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A story following the turbulent times of a group of mainly Turkish Jews, as they try to flee to the safety of Istanbul from Paris during WWII. It is a tale from a different perspective from the norm, which I found gave this story a unique quality.

Although I found this book quite hard to get into at first, I persevered and it was definitely well worth it. After getting to know the characters, the story was full of suspense and I was wiling them all to survive.

WWII from a different perspective.

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Fabulous writing. I really enjoyed the story. The history is very well expressed. I didn’t want it to end.

Excellent story

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I will gladly give the book a second chance, I ended up getting it as a free download on Kindle I think, but the Audible production is just awful. I couldn't finish it because the performance is just so poor. Jhaveri sounds like one of those tannoy announcements on the train station when they are saying all the stops the coming train will make. Of course, all of those station names have been individually recorded, and then just put together for the announcement. That's how this reader sounds! There is no flow to anything he says, each word sounds like a random, individual recording put together for a single announcement. Absolutely awful. If I were Kulin, I would be miffed at best!

Awful Performance

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