One Book One Marin / The Book

The Oracle of Stamboul is a historical novel about a preternaturally intelligent little girl who becomes an advisor to the Ottoman sultan and through her advice to him, changes the course of history. It is the story of an eight year-old orphan who pushes back against the tides of history and changes their direction. Influenced by Charles Dickens, Roald Dahl, Italo Calvino, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, The Oracle of Stamboul is an evocative, magical historical novel that will transport readers to another time and place – romantic, exotic, yet remarkably similar to our own.

Interested in additional titles set in Turkey? Click here to download a book list complied by the Corte Madera Library.

One Book One Marin Selection Process

Since its inception, One Book One Marin has opened the annual selection process to its committee members - attempting to cast a wide net to garner opinions and thought from as many community representatives as possible. The committee, comprised of one representative from each local library and community partner, has adapted the following criteria for the book selection:

1.	The book raises issues which are worthy of discussion and are of interest to a wide variety of Marin County Residents
2.	The book is readily available in paperback and in English
3.	The book will be carried in Spanish, if available

To date, the committee has chosen books by authors who live in the Bay Area and have generously shared their time, speaking at two or more events. It is the committee's hope to chose authors who will continue to be generous with their time for One Book One Marin.

One Book One Marin wishes to raise library awareness and utilization and to build community through the act of reading a common book. Submissions for consideration are appreciated, as the selection process begins in the Spring of each year, with the official announcement of the title and author to be released in December.