10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World

Content Warning: This section discusses death and murder, childhood sexual assault and rape, mistreatment of sex workers, human trafficking, and gendered violence and abuse.

One of the central themes of Elif Shafak’s 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World is the complexity of family. The novel explores the limits of the traditional definition of family, particularly how family is not necessarily defined through blood relations. The novel deals largely with Leila’s disillusionment with her own family and her formation of a family made up of friends in Istanbul. In the face of rejection, her unconventional group of companions forms a makeshift family that Leila calls “the five.” Throughout Part 1 of the novel, Shafak explores the complexities of what goes into the formation of a family, their unbreakable bonds, and the significance of finding love and acceptance.

The concept of the chosen family is one of the larger ideas that the novel attempts to grapple with. After moving to Istanbul and leaving behind her biological family, Leila finds love and support from her friends. This group is diverse, made up of individuals from a variety of different backgrounds; they are brought together by their shared marginalization within society. They share a deep, vibrant connection that is exemplified by the fierce loyalty and dedication they show upon learning of the news of Leila’s passing and her unjust burial in the Cemetery of the Companionless.