The Bastard of Istanbul Author:Shafak, Elif In "The Bastard of Istanbul" Turkish author Elif Shafak confronts her country's poignant past in a vivid and colorful tale about the tangled history of two families--one Turkish and one Armenian-American. — The story takes place in Tucson, San Francisco and Istanbul. Central characters are two young women (19 and 21) and their extended families.... more » A great read that will be enjoyable for anyone, but especially for those who know the three cities.« less