Elif Shafak

The Bastard of Istanbul follows two families—one Turkish and one Armenian-American—whose lives become intertwined through secrets, trauma, and generational memory. In Istanbul, 19-year-old Asya Kazancı lives in a household filled with strong women, while in the United States, Armanoush travels to Turkey in search of her Armenian roots and history. As their paths cross, hidden truths about past violence, identity, and family history begin to surface. The novel explores themes of cultural identity, historical memory, generational trauma, belonging, and the impact of unresolved past conflicts on the present.