The Red-Haired Woman

Orhan Pamuk’s The Red-Haired Woman offers a mixed experience for readers seeking the author’s signature depth. The opening chapters showcase Pamuk’s usual fluid and immersive style, with subtle psychological insights and vivid setting descriptions. However, as the novel progresses—especially in the second part—the extended focus on father-son relationships and references to the Shahnameh and Oedipus unnecessarily slows the narrative, at times making it tedious.

Moreover, the ending feels somewhat rushed, and the mastery and depth of the first part do not fully carry through, weakening the overall impact. The Red-Haired Woman is still readable for those interested in Pamuk’s literary voice, but its pacing and cohesion may leave some readers disappointed.