Leila’s body lies in a trash bin. She is dead but her brain is still functioning. It is said the brain can continue to work for 10 minutes and 38 seconds and it is in this time that Leila runs through the memory of her life. We are taken from her birth, childhood, and the tragic circumstances of her life that led to her eventual murder. Leila has five friends and these are the people that eventually mourn her and give meaning to her life as well as their own. It is also an elegy to the city of Istanbul with all its beauty and its problems. This is a Booker longlisted title and fully deserves to be on the list. It should also be a favorite to win. Leila’s life story is moving and tragic. It is also life affirming. There is much realism here with a skillfully created group of characters. The skilled author even managed to throw in some humor near the end of the book. The conclusion is truly life affirming and brilliant. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.