In Turkish history, secretive groups have taken a particular type of pleasure from staging coups. Authors of the Turkish language, meanwhile, have been taking a different, literary type of pleasure from writing about their attempts at usurping political power. During the Latin American boom of the 1960s and 1970s, writers like Gabriel Garcia Marquez and … Continue reading Usurping Words: Turkish Coup Literature
‘The Time Regulation Institute’ by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
Years ago, I came across the name of Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar (1901-1962) for the first time. I was reading Orhan Pamuk’s book about Istanbul and Pamuk refers to Tanpinar as his most important teacher as a writer and novelist. That’s a sufficient reason to have a closer look at this author and his novel The … Continue reading ‘The Time Regulation Institute’ by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar
Graphic Novels from Turkey
Foreign teachers of English in Turkey quickly learn that many Turkish parents want their children to grow up to be either a doctor or an engineer. Those were the safest choices in earlier generations, and parents are occasionally reluctant to believe in the new expanded choices available in a booming Turkey. Children are expected to … Continue reading Graphic Novels from Turkey
Elif Shafak: Turkey’s versatile writer
Elif Shafak has always been a controversial writer in Turkey: Some critics and readers will refer to her as a potential Nobel Laureate – the second one Turkey would have after Orhan Pamuk. Others accuse her of political opportunism, shameless self-promotion and mediocrity in literature. Yet, her latest book, “The Three Daughters of Eve” continues … Continue reading Elif Shafak: Turkey’s versatile writer
Review: The Three Old Ladies’ Tea by Friedrich Glauser
The Three Old Ladies’ Tea opens with a young man appearing at a tram stop in the middle of the night, where he begins undressing before collapsing into a coma-like state, all while a policeman looks on uncomprehendingly. And in these opening paragraphs, we find the template by which Friedrich Glauser will continue to draw … Continue reading Review: The Three Old Ladies’ Tea by Friedrich Glauser
Review: You’ve Got Grave Issues by Nilufar Sharipova
Nilufar Sharipova's short story collection You've Got Grave Issues depicts hilarious snapshots of the 'Municipal Cemetery Department' and its employees, hence the title's double entendre. You've Got Grave Issues speaks to the sense of control humans believe we wield over our lives. An array of masterfully rendered characters demonstrate the anxieties, concerns, and thrills we … Continue reading Review: You’ve Got Grave Issues by Nilufar Sharipova
Review: Cafe Europa by Slavenka Drakulić
Slavenka Drakulić continues her look at life after communism in the book Cafe Europa her sequel to How We Survived Communism and Even Laughed. It's a great read and an honest read from the 1990s that rings true close to twenty years after she wrote it. If you think regular consumers in the West sometimes … Continue reading Review: Cafe Europa by Slavenka Drakulić
Review: Hedgehog’s Home by Branco Čopić
Hedgemond the Hunter is a house-proud hedgehog whose attachment to his home mystifies the other animals in this narrative poem. After Hedgemond enjoys a lovely dinner with Fox, he insists on returning home despite the late hour. Miffed, Fox follows him to discover what all the fuss is about. En route Wolf, Bear, and Wild … Continue reading Review: Hedgehog’s Home by Branco Čopić
Review: The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić
About five years ago, an American friend of mine, whose book taste I completely respected, told me about this book. He was so enthusiastic I knew someday I would read it, even though I had never heard of the author, never heard of the book, and knew nothing about Bosnia. I never suspected then, that … Continue reading Review: The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić
REVIEW: The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan
Mariam Petrosyan's award-winning epic The Gray House is a sprawling yarn of a story, a coming-of-age tale wrapped up in threads of magical realism and mystery. The eponymous House is a boarding school for disabled children and teenagers, which sits on the outskirts of town, ignored by the people of the Outsides. Its residents, a … Continue reading REVIEW: The Gray House by Mariam Petrosyan
