Madonna in a Fur Coat

How have I gone so long without this classic in my life? It's been a while since I've read something so poignant and deeply human. I had high expectations going into this, and those expectations were exceeded. A young man (who remains unnamed) is assigned an office with Raif Efendi. He is fascinated by the shell of a man that is his co-worker, and eventually, the two men befriend each other. It's an unusual sort of friendship, and although the young man has worked with Raif and even met his family, Raif hasn't shared much about himself. Why does he sometimes disappear? How come he's so prone to illness? Why does he let everyone treat him so poorly and without appreciation? Through Raif's diary, the young man learns about his life years before, while he was living in Berlin. Central to the diary is his infatuation with a painting in a gallery and its artist, Maria Pruder. Chance encounters bring the two together. Maria is just as captivating as her self-portrait. She's straightforward, confident, outspoken… everything Raif is not. The two forge a friendship, Raif willing to put his feelings for Maria aside if it means just having her in his life. This is through and through a character-driven novel. Raif and Maria are both troubled in different ways, making their relationship fascinating to read about. Maria, in particular, is an enigma, given that we only get to know her through Raif's perception. I also enjoyed the beginning of this book, seeing how the narrator and Raif's friendship forms and deepens. The characters' shortcomings are written in a relatable way, not villainizing them, but not glorifying them either. Although the book is under 200 pages, I took months to read it. I wanted to savor my time with it and appreciate every moment. Raif's character in particular struck a chord. He lives his life almost entirely inside his own head, isolated and unsure of how to function in the world. Sabahattin Ali captures his desolation so well. I felt immersed in his mind. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to start reading classics. It's short but impactful. It reads relatively modern, too. Honestly, my words aren't even remotely conveying the experience I had while reading this book and I've given up trying. I think the best way to enjoy this story is to go into it knowing as little as possible so you can meet Raif along with the narrator.

Until recently I'd never heard of this book .Somewhere I read about it and rather capriciously downloaded it.I'm glad I did .It's a fascinating book which I suspect many readers misinterpret. The first quarter of the book is a setup for what is to come. In 1940 Ankara a young would be writer who's down on his luck gets a job where he meets an older, mousy clerk .They become as close to being friends as the the extremely withdrawn older man is capable of being.The older man becomes seriously ill and the younger comes into possession of notebook he wrote some years earlier.This note book becomes the main section of the novel. Raif is an aimless young man who grows up in rural Turkey without any real ambition .He is profoundly disconnected from others. His father decides to send him to Germany so he can learn about the soap business.In Berlin he meets Maria and forms the deepest connection he's ever formed with another human being.This is where some readers lose the thread.If this is a romance novel ,it's a very unconventional one.Raif and Maria's relationship has a sexual element but it's not primary.Nor is it some high flying pure spiritual love.Raif and Maria are pretty strange birds and the key is they recognize one another. You know this isn't going to go well and it doesn't but not for the reason I anticipated. When the relationship crashes ,Raif is shattered and withdraws into a shell from which he never escapes. This is a sharp insightful book depicting a complex aspect of human feeling and interaction that is difficult to depict. It's not a simple love story.

A beautiful honest and intriguing book written nearly a hundred years ago. Love and the pain that comes with it. I truly enjoyed and will keep this one on my top 5.

Scratches, wrinkles, and scuff marks all throughout the book 🫤

Actually I read the book in original language which is Turkish because I am Turkish. When I bought english version I hesitated about how it was translated. The original language is mostly old Turkish but I was suprised and impressed by the translation when I read the book. It was quite good, can't say perfect but definitely pretty good.

Maybe I read it too quickly, but it didn’t move me in the way I think it’s supposed to. I wouldn’t say don’t read it, but I’m not going to go out of my way to recommend it either. Takes a while to get into the meat of the book.

Great writing and love story

there is no way to describe this book without experiencing it for yourself but suffice to say it changed me

Great book ideal for travel 166 pages.love the story & writing style

livro super macio e sem nenhuma avaria!

A beautifully written, slow-burn novel that explores love, loneliness, and self-discovery with remarkable depth. The characters feel real, and the emotions linger long after the last page. Quiet, poignant, and thought-provoking, definitely worth reading if you enjoy literary fiction.

I’m so in love with this book!! As you can see, I took it everywhere with me to read it :)

esto no es algo por lo que normalmente me quejaría pero llegó roto :-(