This is the third book by Elif Shafak that I have read and I have enjoyed each book. Shafak is one of Turkey's most famous authors and one who has suffered for some of the things she has written.
The Gaze contains four stories: One about a freak show featuring hideous/beautiful creatures, one about a woman seduced by a "jinn", one about a Siberian explorer in search of fur, and the main story about an obese woman and her dwarf lover. In the main story we follow the woman's daily emotional traumas, her insecurities and her fear of being seen and eventually we learn the truth about her obesity and her realtionship with the dwarf. The book revolves around the idea of the different perceptions of beauty, desirability and ugliness, and the emotions involved with seeing and being seen. The Gaze is a well written book which starts in one place, tells the story, and ends up back were it started. There were a few things that were lost on me in this book, in particular some of the imagery, but it was a good read and I would recommend it.
If you've read it I would love to hear some of your comments.
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