The Bastard of Istanbul

The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak is a novel that intricately weaves the histories of two families—one Turkish and one Armenian American. Set in both Turkey and the United States, the story revolves around Asya, a nineteen-year-old woman who loves Johnny Cash and French Existentialists, and the four sisters of the Kazanci family in Istanbul. Asya’s mother, Zehila, runs a tattoo parlor, while her other sisters have their unique traits.

When an Armenian American girl named Armanoush secretly flies to Istanbul in search of her identity, she becomes fast friends with Asya. A hidden connection between the two families emerges, linking them to the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres.