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    The Oracle of Stamboul: A Novel
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    The Oracle of Stamboul: A Novel
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    The Oracle of Stamboul: A Novel
    Ebook306 pages5 hours

    The Oracle of Stamboul: A Novel

    By Michael David Lukas

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    Set in the heart of the exotic Ottoman Empire during the first years of its chaotic decline, Michael David Lukas’ elegantly crafted, utterly enchanting debut novel follows a gifted young girl who dares to charm a sultan—and change the course of history, for the empire and the world. An enthralling literary adventure, perfect for readers entranced by the mixture of historical fiction and magical realism in Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, Orhan Pamuk’s My Name is Red, or Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, Lukas’ evocative tale of prophesy, intrigue, and courage unfolds with the subtlety of a Turkish mosaic and the powerful majesty of an epic for the ages.  
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateFeb 8, 2011
    ISBN9780062085436
    Author

    Michael David Lukas

    MICHAEL DAVID LUKAS has been a Fulbright scholar in Turkey, a late-shift proofreader in Tel Aviv and a Rotary scholar in Tunisia. He is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Maryland, and his writing has been published in the Virginia Quarterly Review, Slate, National Geographic Traveler and the Georgia Review. Lukas lives in Oakland, California, less than a mile from where he was born. When he isn’t writing,he teaches creative writing to third- and fourth-graders. Visit him online at www.michaeldavidlukas.com.

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    Reviews for The Oracle of Stamboul

    4/5

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    • 3/5
      I would give it 3.5 if I could.
    • 3/5
      When I first read the description of this book I was intrigued by the time period and the mystery around Eleonora. I definitely got entranced in this book while reading during my commute (almost missed my stop twice!). Each character within the book had a different relationship with Eleonora. Eleonora's reaction to her father's death was reasonable, but thought that after weeks of no talking either The Bey or Mrs. Damakan would have curtailed this behavior.It was refreshing to see that within the Ottoman Empire there was the same push and pull within the royalty and their advisers as other empires. I'm not terribly familiar with the Ottoman Empire so it's hard to tell if this detail is part of the history or fiction. I was a tad disappointed that Eleonora really only advised the Sultan on one issue. To me the premise of impacting history meant advising on multiple situations.The plot line with the American professor was a little strange and out of place and I could never figure out what his end goal was tutoring Eleonora. Loved the uncertainty and uneasiness surrounding Eleonora's gift and cultural heritage which just added to the political turmoil of the time period.
    • 3/5

      Oh this book had so very much promise, but for me it fell short.

      From the inside flap: "Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple and white Hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair of Tartar midwives who arrive just minutes before her birth. They had read the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star is in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last King had given on his deathwatch."

      Sounds wonderful and promising evoking a richness of imagery, characterization and story. But that was not to be. Although, the descriptions of the physical world are rich and evocative, the story itself just was not enough for me. I wanted to know more about the mysterious midwives, I wanted to know more about Eleonora. I wanted to know more of the intrigue of the seemingly unscrupulous Reverend, I wanted to know more of the interaction between Eleonora and Moncef Bey, the Sultan & Mrs Damakan.

      I Just Wanted More........

      8-(
    • 2/5
      Eleonora was born on the worst of all nights, during the sacking of her village. Her birth corresponded with an ancient prophecy, and, true to expectation, she is no ordinary girl. Animals are drawn to her; she has a flock of birds that follows her wherever she goes. In addition, she is incredibly intelligent, a savant. Ellie can recall everything she reads; not only that, but she can also analyze information with a skill far beyond her eight years. All Ellie cares about is spending time with her father, so, when he has a business trip to Stamboul, she stows away in the cargo. Her trip will give her a chance to expand her knowledge and experience, and embroil her in the highest levels of the Ottoman world.

      This is another book that receives the label of 'disappointing' from me. The time period is an exceedingly interesting one: the Ottoman Empire is on the verge of collapse in the days before WWI, trying to navigate the stormy waters of international politics. Eleonora, too, is a really interesting character (to me at least), what with her incredible intelligence and love of literature. Somehow though, this does not equal a thrilling tale.

      The story, such as it is, plods along incredibly slowly. There is little action (and when there is a more exciting thing, like a sinking ship, the narration skips from the beginning to the aftermath. Plot was definitely lacking. I never identified any real purpose to the story, aside from the really lame and said-straight-out comments in the brief epilogue.

      Despite being historical fiction, the story didn't do anything with the history at all. It was such a waste. Ellie's hinted powers were wasted as well. What of her connection with animals? What else can she do? The ending seemed not so much the intended conclusion as an escape from the author not knowing how to conclude the story he had begun. The book is not particularly long, so there was definitely room for more narration, but it just ends, unsatisfactorily.

      I mentioned before that I found Eleonora to be an interesting character. However, the narration follows a number of different people, most of whom I had absolutely no interest in. For example, Reverend Muehler irritated me from the beginning and got perpetually worse (and is plot line was never tied up).

      For me, this book showed a lot of promise in subject matter and is well-written, but fails to achieve much of anything. Of course, looking at other reviews, I find that many people loved it. It's all a matter of personal taste.
    • 3/5

      This review is from: The Oracle of Stamboul: A Novel (Hardcover)
      Late in the summer of 1877, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes suddenly appears over the town of Constanta on the Black Sea, and Eleonora Cohen is ushered into the world by a mysterious pair of Tartar midwives who arrive just minutes before her birth. "They had read the signs, they said: a sea of horses, a conference of birds, the North Star in alignment with the moon. It was a prophecy that their last king had given on his deathwatch." But joy is mixed with tragedy, for Eleonora's mother dies soon after the birth.

      Raised by her doting father, Yakob, a carpet merchant, and her stern, resentful stepmother, Ruxandra, Eleonora spends her early years daydreaming and doing housework--until the moment she teaches herself to read, and her father recognizes that she is an extraordinarily gifted child, a prodigy.

      For me, The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas had so much promise, and just did not deliver it. The magical quality with which the story began, the flock of purple and white hoopoes, the mysterious midwives who suddenly arrive lead one to believe that the book will continue in this way, but it does not. For the first bit of the book it does, but once Elenora's father dies, Elanora becomes really a very bland character with no real personality. The book also takes on a much more passive quality to it, where in things happen TO Elenora, rather than her actively participating in things.

      It's really too bad that the author, who had such a delightful premise going, apparently did not know how to bring it to fruition. Over at Goodreads, you'll find some reviewers felt much the same way.

      On a star rating, I'd have to give this only a ***. It truly was only average. I'll admit, my star rating would lean more toward 2 1/2 stars than a three if it were possible to do a 1/2 star review anywhere.

      Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.
    • 4/5
      This is a sweet story that is a historical fiction mixed in with magical and humorous elements. It reads like a fairy tale. The heroine Eleonora is fascinating as the child prodigy and her character is what drew me in to the book.The writing flows smoothly and I was quickly caught up in the story. The descriptively beautiful writing transports you to another place and time with a mysterious air. Although this is a historical fiction, the plot still feels current and relevant. I read the book without knowledge of the history of the Ottoman Empire, and that did not hinder my enjoyment.Eleonora appealed to me with her love of books, inquisitive nature and talent of communicating with animals. She is such an intelligent and poised main character that it is easy to forget she is just a child. I would love to follow her adventures in further books; she is such an interesting character. I was happy for her when she got away from her stifling surroundings and her stepmother and into a new home where her talents were appreciated.In addition to Eleonora, we are introduced to her father, Yakob, a carpet salesman, and the evil stepmother Ruxandra. Eleonora stays in Stamboul with Moncef Bay, a kind and wealthy bachelor with a secret past. Through Eleonora’s tutor she is brought to the attention of the Sultan. Eleonora’s travels take her from the Turkish markets to the Sultan’s palace. The sights, sounds, smells and foods are vividly described and make you feel as if you are there.This book should appeal to those interested in history or that appreciate historical fiction, and those that read literature. Readers of young adult fiction may also enjoy this story and relate to Eleonora and the questions and tragedies she faces in her life. The Oracle of Stamboul is a charming debut and I would be interested in reading more from this author.
    • 3/5
      A fantasy set in late-Ottoman Stamboul [Istanbul], telling the story of a young girl, daughter of a Jewish carpet merchant in Constanta, Romania. From strange portents at her birth, she is thought to be the fulfillment of a prophecy that she will influence the history of the world. A flock of purple and white hoopoes has been with her since her birth and remains with her, overseeing her throughout the novel. She stows away in one of her father's steamer trunks when he has to make a business journey to Stamboul. She is a prodigy, a very precocious child, a savant with power of total recall, a very quick learner. Her father dies and she lives at the home of a Bey, her father's good friend. She becomes advisor to the sultan, an eccentric man and inveterate birdwatcher. She finally decides to take her own fate into her own hands; will she fulfill the prophecy that she will tilt the balance of history, or will she sink into being a footnote to Ottoman history? Writing style was very simple, but some of the descriptions were elegant; the author is a master of the metaphor or simile with such statements as: "The sky was a bottomless silky black, sprinkled with stars like spilled sugar and quiet but for a few lonely stray cats prowling the waterfront. A loose association of ships slipped through the straits and the moon was reflected with pregnant glow." Old Stamboul is evoked vividly through these and many other descriptions; this was the strongest part of the book to me. The premise of stowing away in a trunk, many days' journey from Romania, was absolutely impossible; by that I figured the story to be a fantasy. The characters were nicely drawn. Even Sultan Abdulhamid II was sympathetic, although in real life I believe his personality was absolutely cruel. This novel read very quickly.
    • 5/5
      In this magical tale you will meet Eleonora, born on a night of violence in the presence of two Tartar midwives. A mysterious flock of hoopoes in an unusual coloring arrive and roost in the tree outside of her house. The flock follows her everywhere. As she grows she proves to be exceptionally intelligent and is considered a savant. But that is dangerous in the small town where she lives. She also feels constrained by her stepmother/aunt - she wants to see more of the world so when her father is leaving for a trip to Stamboul she stows away on the boat.This is a truly wonderful tale of a young woman far ahead of her time. Once you start reading you will find it is very hard to put the book down. You are drawn into the world of an Ottoman empire that is slowly crumbling around the feet of a Sultan who knows what he wants to do but receives very bad advice from his advisers. Mr. Lukas takes historical fact and injects his fictional character to create a world of "what might have been" to great effect. The mystical feeling of the East is felt in the descriptions of Stamboul and I felt as if I were there. Eleonora is a truly unique character and she goes through her life doing what she thinks is best - she is written and appears to be much, much older than her eight years. But it somehow seems right given the early development of the character. This is another book I will keep to read again for I feel that on a second reading I will pick up many details that I missed on a first. Books like this are to be read again and savored.
    • 4/5
      Briefly, The Oracle of Stamboul is about a very intelligent, very precocious , gifted young Jewish girl of the Ottoman Empire, whose birth is heralded by a flock of purple hoopoe birds.Eleonor's mother dies, as a result of childbirth. Eleonor's father is a rug merchant, and when he decides to travel to Stamboul in the hopes of selling more carpets, 8-yr-old Eleonor, not wanting to be left in the hands of an uncaring setp-mother, and not wanting to experience the loneliness of separation from her loving father, stows away on the ship that is taking him to Stamboul.In Stamboul, her father is killed, and she becomes the ward of her father's business partner, an important, wealthy man, Monef Bey.Her gifts and intelligence bring her to the notice of the Sultan, and she becomes his trusted advisor, much to the disdain of many in the palace.I enjoyed this, but perhaps not as much as I'd hoped.
    • 3/5
      A light and easy read with some interesting, if underdeveloped characters. Eleanor's age (8) was a tad unbelievable, even for a 'savant', but the place was evoked magnificently, at a time in history when there was much change, giving the possibility than anything might happen.
    • 4/5
      It was the beginning of the end for the Great Ottoman Empire. There were the obvious signs of civil unrest and international conflicts and there were more subtle signs in clandestine meetings and passed information. And it was during these troubling times when Elenora Cohen made her way into the world, it was on a Thursday while troops gathered on a hill and a flock of Hoopoes flitted about. It was not without tragedy that she did so as her mother died giving birth to her. She was attended to by her devoted father Yakob and her mother’s midwives until the arrival of her mother’s older unwed sister who would go on to become not only her aunt but her stepmother as well. Elenora had a relatively normal childhood and yet it soon became apparent that she was not a normal little girl as she possessed an uncommon intelligence and sponge like intellect and a somewhat mystical nature as well. This somewhat magical, mystical and enchanted little girl starts the journey of her life under a troubling star that will take her to the seat of the Empire and to it’s leader as well. But what will come of her, will she go on to great things and shine like the sun or will she go down like a burning nova. Open the pages of this multidimensional and eclectic read and find out.Michael David Lukas brings us his debut novel with a plot that’s as diverse as the Ottoman Empire was at the end of the Nineteenth Century when his tale takes place with a story line ranging from politics to mysticism. He brings us this with a dialogue that combines prose, everyday narrative and at times militaristic jargon which mostly has a fluent feel to it. I did however find the fluency chopped up a bit at times by a bit of wordiness and although this happens it did not diminish my enjoyment of the read. His characters are the stars and they do shine from the stuffy Ruxandra, to the loving Yakob to the patient Moncef Bey and finally the Sultan himself and his mother, and Mr. Lukas takes his time with each of these characters so we readers get their full effect. This read is not for everyone, but if you enjoy a real piece of literary fiction with enough history to satisfy the student, enough imagery to satisfy the dreamer, and enough occult to satisfy the mystic then you will love this.
    • 3/5
      The story of Eleanora Cohen, a ten year old savant sounded irresistible and would have been if the story had developed its full potential. Eleanora never knew her mother, but grows up to have a thirst for reading and knowledge doting on her father. When he has to go on a business trip to sell carpets, Eleanora decides to stowaway and escape her (wicked) stepmother, who had stopped her reading, and thus Eleanora's adventures begin. No sooner is she reunited with her father and installed at the home of his business partner, than she loses him too, and the poor girl is all on her own in late 19th century Instanbul; luckily Moncef Bey, her father's business partner becomes a surrogate father to her, warning her not to ask what he does when he goes out. Her tutor, a Reverend turns out to be a spy for the Sultan, and tells him about the wise but sad little girl and her guardian and she is summoned to him to the palace... The imagery in this novel is beautiful, and the flock of purple and white hoopoes that follow Eleanora everywhere including across the sea are an lovely and exotic detail. The setting in Stamboul with the beleaguered Sultan feel quite 'fin de siecle'. The problem is that Eleanora ends up rather bland; her grief when she loses her father strips her emotional core from her, indeed she stops talking for a long period of time too. Moncef Bey is also not enough of a rebel - realistic but not so exciting. The Sultan is interesting, but spends most of his time thinking or trying to escape his mother. The first half of this novel promised much, but not enough happened in the later stages to make it a properly fulfilling read.
    • 4/5
      I received this book free through the Good Reads First Reads program.

      I really enjoyed this lovely little story, and it's gotten me hooked on wanting to know more about the history of this region where the story takes place. Although I don't feel like it really wrapped up some of the loops of the story and I was still left with several questions at the end, I still feel like it was well worth the read and will probably read it again sometime. Plus, I would love to know what happened next in Eleanora's life even though I got the feeling that there won't be a second installment.

      I liked most of the characters and thought they were fleshed out very well, considering this turned out to be such a quick read.

      I would definitely keep my eye on this author, and look forward to future books from him.
    • 4/5
      I found myself completely enchanted by Eleonora in The Oracle of Stamboul. Although I had seen this book numerous times in the bookstores I’d visited, I’d never taken the time to actually read what it was about, satisfied with just a passing glance at the gorgeous cover.Last night I opened up the book and was fully unprepared for the beautiful, magical world that filled my thoughts and teased my senses. I could smell, taste, feel, hear and experience the world Eleonora was born into and then further journeyed to see more of. It was so fantastic.I identified with Eleonora, with her love of the novel, her eagerness to learn. I commiserated with her at the agony of only having one novel a month to read and followed her journey through the classics with excitement.All the ingredients come together to form this fantastic, magical, mythical type of novel that had me thoroughly in its thrall… until the end. While I still dislike the ending of the book, I can understand it was a necessary evil – because I have no idea how it would have ended otherwise. Still, there was a sense of loss and abruptness and that alone affects my rating of the book and my overall view of it. While the journey was magical, the ending cast it all into a different light.Still, I recommend this book – especially for those who love books that will draw them in and fully immerse them in the story and place. It does such a wonderful job of that that it’s a surprise when those last few pages come up.
    • 4/5
      Eleanora, a beautiful and intelligent girl, is born under auspicious occasions. She is delivered by two tartar midwives who tell her father about a prophecy. Unfortunately, they also tell her father of the loss of his wife. Eleanora grows up being raised by her doting and loving father and her unkind stepmother/aunt. From an early age, Eleanora proves to be a gifted child and loves to learn. But her stepmother/aunt refuses, and teaches her instead to be a housekeeper. When faced with a month long separation from her father, Eleanora stowes away on a ship and joins her father in Stamboul. There, life and death await. Her father is killed in an accident, and Elanaora becomes a ward of her father's host. Bey, a kind man, takes her in and hires a tutor for her. Her tutor notices her great mind, and recommends her to the Sultan.This book reminds me a lot of Atonement. The author is meticulous in his detailed account. Eleanora was a great character, and the Sultan was intriguing. This is a good book. I would recommend it.I won this book from the Goodreads First Reads program.
    • 4/5
      The Oracle of Stamboul by Michael David Lukas is a picturesque historical fiction set around the Ottoman Empire in 1877 at the brink of the Russo-Turkish War. The book centers around a young girl, Elenora Cohen, whose birth is marked by strange signs and prophecies. A flock of purple and white hoopoes take up residence near her house marking her as unique even before she develops reading and writing skills at a young age showing her to be a prodigy. Her father, a carpet merchant, dotes on her and when he sets off for Stamboul, Elenora stows away on his boat. Arriving in the city, and entering the home of her father's wealthy business partner Moncef Bey, Elenora is swept up in the world around her and her remarkable talents soon catch the eye of the Sultan himself.I really liked the scenery and the historical setting of this novel, but I was expecting a little more depth to the characters and more development of the intrigue in the plot. I loved that the story focused on Elenora but the mysterious aspects of her birth were never explained or fully developed. I also liked the interaction between Elenora and the Sultan, but again, I wish their relationship had been given more time to expand. I was really drawn into the stories of the supporting characters - Moncef Bey and Elenora's tutor Reverend Muehler - as well. Lukas did a nice job weaving their subplots into the main story and I was very intrigued by them both. While there were things I wish had been done differently, I still rather enjoyed this book. The writing was well done and it is a fast paced story. The Ottoman Empire was a unique setting, as it seems rarely chosen in historical fiction works, and I enjoyed the details of the political climate and the pictures of Turkish life. As a debut novel, The Oracle of Stamboul was definitely a book that will have me remembering Michael David Lukas' name for seeking out his future works.
    • 5/5
      "The Oracle of Stamboul" by Michael David Lukas is not just a novel, it is a literary portal that transports you to the streets of Turkey in the late 1800's. And while you are there, Michael David Lukas takes you on a magical journey - with his beautiful prose, he builds the city around you, surrounds you with the smell of its spices, and the warmth of its people. It is this particular quality in Lukas' writing that really gives this novel its edge. Eleanora Cohen is born to Yakob Cohen on a tragic day in Constanta. The Ottoman Empire is coming an end, and two ladies who assist her birth claim that her birth was predicted by the last Tartar king, and that they had followed the signs to their home. Losing her mother on her birthday, little Ellie is raised by her loving and devoted father, and her cold and disciplinarian aunt, who ends up marrying her father. As Ellie grows, it is apparent to anyone that crosses paths with her, that she is an exceptional child - in a way that is beyond their comprehension. And it is due to her nature, that she is kept at bay from the world. But when Ellie's father leaves for Stamboul on business, Ellie cannot stand to live in her house with her frigid aunt, and escapes in one of his carpet trunks, and finds herself on board the same streamer as her father a stowaway. It is in Stamboul that Ellie truly flourishes, and finds herself immersed in a world of knowledge and literature. She learns to speak various languages, memorizes passages from books by heart with much ease, and breaks ciphers and codes with even more ease. It is due to talents such as this, and her pack of hoopoes, along with the prophecies that surround her birth that bring her to the attention of the then king, Sultan Abdulhamid II. Upon meeting little Ellie, the Sultan is immediately impressed by her knowledge and mannerisms, and despite oppositions from his Vizier and his own mother, he heeds her advice. It is due to her advice that he breaks ties with Germany, and the Kaiser. Unfortunately, for Ellie, these turn of events come under scrutiny by an American reporter, and her Ellie is soon more famous than she cares to be. Will Ellie be able to handle the pressure that being an Oracle brings her? Will she become the Sultan's advisor in court? Or will she become a beloved Oracle to all of the world? Michael David Lukas' "The Oracle of Stamboul" is an enchanting and fascinating read, full of magical realism and written in lilting prose, this book impresses from the first chapter to it's last. Also, for those who may not be sure about its significance, hidden under the layers of beauty, fantasy and magic is a bit of truly magnificent history - a turn of events which, had they not come to pass, could very well have resulted in an entirely different world today. Eleanora, although a child, will astound you with her curiosity, maturity and humility and "The Oracle of Stamboul" will coccoon you into its world, and leave you breathless with the many beautiful views of Turkey.
    • 4/5
      “Hoopoes coated the town like frosting, piped along the rain gutters of the governor’s mansion and slathered on the gilt dome of the Orthodox church. In the trees around Yakob and Leah Cohen’s house the flock seemed especially excited, chattering, flapping their wrings, and hopping from branch to branch like a crowd of peasants lining the streets of the capital for an imperial parade. The hoopoes would probably have been regarded as an auspicious sign, where it not for the unfortunate events that coincided with Eleonora’s birth.”- from “The Oracle of Stamboul” by Michael David LukasAmid portents that include this ‘conference’ of birds, Eleonora Cohen is come into this world. Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs. An ancient prophecy (which is never detailed) foretold the birth of this very unique child. “Just after twilight, in that ethereal hour when the sky moves through purple to darkness, the hoopoes fell silent. The gunshots ceased and the rumbling of hoofbeats whittled to nothing. It was as if the entire world had paused to take a breath. In that moment, a weary groan choked out of the bedroom, followed by a fleshy slap and the cry of a newborn child.”This wonderful story follows the travails of a young and uniquely gifted girl in late 19th Century Europe. Motherless, Eleonora (and her flock of hoopoes) stows away on a streamliner destined for (I)Stamboul, where her father intends to spend a month selling oriental rugs. Eleonora is not just a special child. But a girl. A jewish girl. A savant. Her flock feeds her, protects her, scouts for her. “With time....it became apparent that their attraction was connected in some way to Eleonora. It was almost as if they regarded her as part of their flock, the queen without which their lives had no purpose. They slept when she slept, stood guard while she bathed, and when she left the house, a small contingency broke off to follow along overhead" The hoopoes are referenced in an ancient allegory which casts the bird as a Sufi master who leads a group of thirty pupils on a pilgrimage to find God. It's an appropriate metaphor for Eleonora and the ever growing role she plays within the Caliph's court in Stamboul. “The hoopoes would have been more surprising perhaps if Eleonora were not such an extraordinary creature herself. Even when she was an infant in her nurse’s arms, one could already discern the first shoots of what would later blossom into a stunning and demure beauty, her pleasant flushing cheeks crowned with a next of curls, wide green eyes the color of sea glass, and milk teeth like tiny cubes of ivory. She rarely cried, took her first steps at eight months, and was speaking in complete sentences by the age of two.”The story takes place during a time when Stamboul is in transition. The Ottoman ways are very much in place and settled in. The world around them is changing. The Sultan, Abdulhamid II, is slowly finding ways to modernize his kingdom, but the world is simply moving to fast to keep up. The Sultan finds an odd ally and advisor in the sweetly naive jewish girl. Lukas' engaging writing style paints a colorful world of Sultans and court politics. His characters are subtlety complex, well-fleshed through poetic prose and sensible plot points. The deftly layered personalities are well-structured over the course of the book.My only negative is that the story could easily have carried additional pages. I was sad to say farewell to the world of this extraordinary girl.
    • 3/5
      The word that comes first to mind about this book is "fresh." It is a beautiful tale about a young girl and her unusual circumstances in the world, filled with powerful thoughts and clear emotions. It was not necessarily deep - but that is okay. There were hints of intrigue and hints of mysterious sub-plots that were not attended to. But these alternate stories would have muddled the story and detracted from it's cleanness. It has been a while since I read something with absolutely zero sexual innuendo or undertones and not even any romance for that matter. It was really refreshing and thoroughly enjoyable.
    • 5/5
      At the end of the Ottoman Empire, a young girl, whose birth was predicted by the last Tartar King, holds the power to set history on the right path. Born to a Jewish carper merchant, Eleanora Cohen is as brilliant as she is devoted to her father. She follows him to Stamboul where she catches the attention of the 34th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Sultan Abdulhamid II. The Sultan is amazed at Eleanora's vast knowledge at such an early age, and invites her to visit the palace. Sultan accepts Eleanora's advice on political matters, and to her dismay, Sultan's attention is noticed by an American reporter. Before she knows it, Eleanora is propelled into infamy, one she is not so sure she's ready to handle. Michael David Lukas' The Oracle of Stamboul is fascinating and enchanting, a beautiful glimpse into a world where prophesies are real, and massive empires vie for power while bowing down at the feet of a little girl. The Oracle of Stamboul has been described as an instant classic, and I can definitely see why. Highly recommended.
    • 5/5
      Fascinating story. Intoxicating scenery. Larger than life characters. This book was magnificent.
    • 3/5
      This was a light and pleasant book, the sort I like to read in between book club books just for pleasure. The visual images were lovely, and it is an area of the world that I am not particularly familiar with. I found the end to be rather abrupt, and the part where she unwittingly unburdened herself of secrets a tad bizarre. But it was enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      In the summer of 1877, a child is born and many mysterious things happen during her birth. First, a flock of purple-and-white hoopoes which are a type of bird arrive. Then just as mysteriously, a pair of special midwives appears to deliver her. After the child, Eleonora is born her mother dies. Eleonora is raised by her doting father, Yakob and her not so loving step-mother, Ruxandra. As Eleonora grows she is found to be a genius. Yakob must leave on business for Stamboul. This is more than Eleonora can bear so she becomes a stowaway on the ship which is carrying her father. Once she arrives in Stamboul, Eleonora's life takes a big change. She lives in the home of her father's business partner, Moncef Bey. I had many questions and concerns about this man's intentions. Then we add in Eleonora's tutor, Reverend Muehler, who may or may not be a spy. But what or who is he spying on? It seems like everyone wants to keep Eleonora close to them as they know she is special. I adored this little girl and at times felt so sorry for her. At every turn there is more mystery and intrigue. The story is an intricate puzzle that at times moves rather slowly. I did however love the author's prose. It was as magical as the story itself. I was glad that I stuck with the story even when it slowed down. The symbolism in the story beautifully written. Usually I miss connections like that in a book but in this one I was able to savor it. Stamboul made for a very interesting setting, one that I am not all that familiar with. I love going to new places and times when reading a book. This book is beautifully published and I would recommend reading the actual book and not the e-book. The pages have a beautiful feel to them which added to the pleasure of reading this book. It almost had an antique feel to it. This is a wonderful debut book that will leave you thinking about this book and this little girl for quite some time.
    • 4/5
      I enjoyed reading this well-written, evocative historical fantasy about a gifted girl's childhood in 1880s Istanbul. Lukas carefully and vividly paints a picture of the Ottoman Empire in its waning days, and populates it with well-drawn and sympathetic characters. I admired the care and craft that Lukas lavished on the book's elegant, evocative -- but not overdone or ponderous -- prose as well as the plausibility of the characters and the thoughts and concerns that motivated them to act as they did. For me, The Oracle of Stamboul was a worthwhile and relaxed screened-porch-rockingchair-with-wineglass-in-hand summertime book. I enjoyed it for some of the same reasons I liked Peter Carey's "Parrot and Olivier in America". Lukas is a solid writer and vivid dreamer, whose future works I will be looking for.
    • 5/5
      First-time author Michael David Lukas has written a wonderful novel set in Istamboul in the late 1800's. Centered on the life of child prodigy/savant Eleanora Cohen, the book's plot offers several unexpected twists and turns. Eleanora is eight-years-old but manages to become an adviser to the Sultan of Stamboul, although not of her own volition. This is a wonderful book and not to be missed. I can't wait to see what the author will do to top this one!
    • 3/5

      "When you follow the ardent instructions of your heart, when you follow not the easy path nor the selfish path, but the path you knew all along was correct, you can only but do what's right by the world."

      Beautiful prose, lush imagery, an untenable situation, an expected outcome. So glad I went along on this short journey.
    • 3/5
      When I first received this book, I thought the cover looked great. I could not wait to get started. The story begins late in the summer of 1877. Eleonora Cohen is born into the world amidst signs all pointing to an ancient prophecy. Although her mother dies soon after, she is raised by her father and step-mother who both realize that Eleonora has a rare and extraordinary gift for learning way beyond a child of her years. Encouraged by her father, but severely reprimanded by her step-mother, Eleonora, now eight years old, is told to keep her gifts hidden.When she finds out that her father will be going to Stamboul for business, Eleonora stows away in one of his trunks. She reveals herself only at the end of the trip. She and her father stay with Moncef Bey, her father's business partner. After another tragedy, Eleonora finds herself staying longer than expected with Moncef Bey. He hires a tutor for her, an American minister, who just may be a spy. Later Eleonora again finds herself in a strange situation when she is introduced to Sultan Abdulhamid, who is searching for assistance in figuring out who is a friend or foe. Will Eleonora be able to give him the answers he is seeking?From the moment I opened the book and read the first few pages, I was in love with this story. The writing was beautiful and transported me to ancient Istanbul. I loved the descriptions, the characters and the mystery and magic surrounding the plot.But then the other day someone asked me what book I was reading. I told them the title and they wanted to know what it was about. I found that I really did not know how to answer that question. Besides the synopsis above, nothing else really happened.I felt like the book kept leading me to greater and greater mystery, but then it felt like nothing ever developed. I kept getting closer and closer to the ending wondering when the author was going to tie up all these loose ends. And then the story just ended....just like that. This story has such AMAZING potential and I began it thinking I would give it a 5 star rating because the writing was so lovely to read. But there was way too much that happened in the book that were never resolved. We never found out more about the American minister. Why was such an emphasis placed on the the prophecy surrounding Eleonora's birth and then nothing more about it later? We could have learned so much more about the characters. I wish we could have had more of a glimpse into Eleonora's plan at the end of the book. I felt like the author had a fantastic beginning of a story, was just starting a plot, never finished it and then just rushed an ending that was really a disappointment. While I am happy to have won it and read it, I just can not recommend it without warning readers that the author did not seem to finish what he started.
    • 5/5
      Eloquently written. I loved the numerous historical and literary references seamlessly woven into the story. Learning history through fiction is both enjoyable and memorable. I highly recommend this book
    • 4/5
      The story is fascinating, but the ending wasn't very satisfying. If you enjoy historical fiction with some magic and mystery, you'll enjoy this. Just be prepared for a less than great ending.
    • 5/5
      In this magical tale you will meet Eleonora, born on a night of violence in the presence of two Tartar midwives. A mysterious flock of hoopoes in an unusual coloring arrive and roost in the tree outside of her house. The flock follows her everywhere. As she grows she proves to be exceptionally intelligent and is considered a savant. But that is dangerous in the small town where she lives. She also feels constrained by her stepmother/aunt - she wants to see more of the world so when her father is leaving for a trip to Stamboul she stows away on the boat.This is a truly wonderful tale of a young woman far ahead of her time. Once you start reading you will find it is very hard to put the book down. You are drawn into the world of an Ottoman empire that is slowly crumbling around the feet of a Sultan who knows what he wants to do but receives very bad advice from his advisers. Mr. Lukas takes historical fact and injects his fictional character to create a world of "what might have been" to great effect. The mystical feeling of the East is felt in the descriptions of Stamboul and I felt as if I were there. Eleonora is a truly unique character and she goes through her life doing what she thinks is best - she is written and appears to be much, much older than her eight years. But it somehow seems right given the early development of the character. This is another book I will keep to read again for I feel that on a second reading I will pick up many details that I missed on a first. Books like this are to be read again and savored.