Dervishes

by Beth Helms

The richly textured, panoramic story of an American mother and daughter stuck in the expatriate community of Ankara, Turkey, in 1975--each of them trying to discover a life in the larger world, each in way over her head

When she is twelve years old, Canada moves with her mother and father to Ankara, Turkey, where her father has been stationed by the government. It is 1975--the Cold War is in full swing and tensions in the Middle East are escalating. But in Ankara's diplomatic community, the days are lazy and indulgent--one long cocktail party. While her father routinely disappears on official business, Canada and her mother, Grace, find themselves in the company of gossipy embassy wives and wealthy Turkish women, immersed in a routine of card games and afternoons at the baths. By the time summer comes, and the city's electricity shuts down from dawn to dusk, mother and daughter can no longer tolerate the insular society--or each other.

Alternating between their perspectives, Dervishes follows Canada and Grace as they set out into the larger Grace is drawn to the lover of her wealthy, manipulative Turkish friend; Canada competes with another girl for the attentions of an arrogant Turkish houseboy, one who knows all their mothers' secrets. Before long, both are in over their heads, and their transgressions threaten to strand them between the safe island of westerners and a strange city that guards its secrets fiercely.
Written with sensuousness and empathy, Beth Helms's debut is the story of a mother and daughter cut loose from their foundations, hungry for independence but dangerously naive.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, Book Club, Adult Fiction, Contemporary

313 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2004

About the author

Beth Helms is the author of the story collection American Wives, which won the 2003 Iowa Short Fiction Award. She spent her childhood in Iran, Iraq, Germany, and Turkey, and now lives in upstate New York. Dervishes is her first novel.

Reviews

[Sandra Novack · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not going to give plot details, because one reviewer here did a fine job of giving an overview already. Beth Helms was in my MFA program, and I know her to be a very austere writer with sparkling prose. This is a book to read, I think, if you love language, attention to setting and atmosphere, and fluid prose. I think it's also of structural interest to writers; I admire quite a bit the overall shape--fluctuating between Canada's past tense chapters and Grace's present tense.

I've never known this writer to be someone who looks for meaning. Meaning, if anything, seems to escape her characters altogether. Some crits I've seen hinge on this, but I don't think Helms' interests lie here at all. I do think, however, that there is a valid crit with the characters. It's very hard to like them. Grace and her friends especially are very shallow, and there's not much disparity between their external actions and conversations and their private thoughts and worlds. Coupled with their social and class statuses, they can seem outright pompous and flat.

Overall, though, there is good plot tension--everything from absent fathers, struggling children, bored wives, affairs, baby selling, and slaughtering animals. I very much admire this writer's prose and style. Really gorgeous work!

[Savannah · Rating 1 out of 5]

How on earth this thing got published, I have no idea. A terrible book, badly written, with no plot. The author herself has admitted "it's about nothing." It probably got published because of the overly glowing review given by Sara Gruen--which Gruen herself admits she never gave. Don't waste your money on this pathetic excuse for a book. The author herself admits "it's the only book I've got in me, and will never write another one." Thank goodness for small favors.

[Susan Hester · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was underwhelmed. Expected richer cultural information about Turkey. Rather, it was a book which surrounded a family stationed in Ankara during the cold war. Dad has a mysterious job with the State Dept or the CIA; Mom is frustrated, has an affair; daughter, often the narrator, goes through a lot of the growing up scenarios, most of which are typical and not so interesting.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

I just didn't enjoy this book. I picked it up when the author spoke at our library a few years ago, and finally got around to reading it, and I just found it a chore to get through. I hate stories (books or movies) where all the drama is artificially created because the characters won't just TALK to each other, and that was the whole premise of this book, basically. Everyone had secrets and no one would say what they were thinking, and so many of the problems could have just been solved if the people would have a straightforward conversation. I didn't find any of the characters sympathetic or likable, not one. That's rare. It seemed that the author wrote it to be deliberately obscure, that she had everyone speak in cryptic comments and insinuations, and no one would answer even a direct question.

The thing that I think drove me the most crazy is I wasn't sure if I was missing something that I was supposed to have figured out, or if the whole point was that the reader wasn't *supposed* to be able to figure out all the details of what was really going on, any more than the characters could know what each other were thinking or feeling (since none of them ever said).

I haven't read other folks' reviews on here yet but I will be really interested to go read them now, to see if other people were able to figure the story out more than I was. But this book really just did not work for me. Time to move on!

[Tim · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's a big difference between writing well and telling a good story; Beth Helms does the former and not the latter so much in "Dervishes."

The novel, centering on an American couple and their daughter in Turkey, the latest stop in a series of government jobs for the patriarch, only rarely catches fire. Helms, who was, in fact, in a situation in Turkey like the teenage daughter of the novel, makes the setting believable but readers do not feel immersed in the culture. The girl explores her part of Ankara with a friend and is intrigued by the Turkish help, and readers understandably expect to be drawn into a better plot than Helms actually serves up here. Not much really happens.

Helms also has an annoying habit of blending flashbacks into here-and-now scenes. I have no problem with this approach, but she does it clumsily and sometimes needlessly.

Again, Helms writes well; sometimes very well. But, often, staying interested in "Dervishes" is a matter of will.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a lot. The setting and the characters were interesting and sympathetic. I was a little disappointed in the resolution; I didn't feel like the daughter's story was carried through to a satisfactory point. But the ending was engaging overall. The atmosphere of the book was probably my favorite thing about the book.

[Mitzi McMahon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried. I put it down and came back to it. But, in the end, I gave up. Got to page 74. Just too slow moving for me. There are a lot of details on setting and atmosphere but, for me, nothing on "story," nothing to hold my interest or move it forward.

[Deirdre · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not even sure why I gave this two stars. Perhaps bc I finished it although it is short so that might be why I decided to plow through. Hateful characters. All of them. And boring.

[Pia Sophia · Rating 2 out of 5]

First thoughts: I think I like it. The story follows Grace, a wife of an important man who has an important, top-secret job, and Canada, her daughter. They move regularly across the world and find themselves placed in Ankara, Turkey for the time being. What I like about this is that the book follows two women's voices. What stands out to me at first: there's houseboys and maids (Turkish) who work for the Western diplomats (and thus, for Grace and her family). That was kind of... ugh. Also, why is the Turkish houseboy named John?!

There is a lot happening here. Secretive accidents, animal slaughter, affairs, and we learn that John is not the real name of the Turkish houseboy (duh). The story goes on and on and secrets slowly get revealed. This book sure has potential, but it feels a little bland. It lacks spice and depth, there is just too much going on to fit in what this story has become. That makes it feel unfinished, in a way.

Not a bad read, but not my favorite either. Will probably give this book to someone who might appreciate this style of writing more than I do.

[Jeanne · Rating 1 out of 5]

And the point is????? It's a great reminder of Turkish culture for those who lived in Turkey with the military/diplomatic corps, but I don't get what the point is. A mother and daughter get involved with people and situations they probably shouldn't and pay the price. I'm just not exactly sure what the situations exactly are and why/what the price is. Just weird.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Turkey during the 1970s, this historical fiction novel tells of an American family who has been transferred to Turkey for a diplomatic post. The father is an Ambassador who spends most of his time away from his family on secretive and shady assignments. The family is used to moving frequently, having to constantly adapt to the new communities, surroundings, and languages. The perspective alternates between mother and daughter; Canada is a 12-year-old girl, used to making new friends, and Grace, her mother, struggles to fit in with the group of diplomat wives. Central to the plot is a farfetched scheme that causes Grace, to her detriment, to become involved in child trafficking. As the expat and local communities intertwine, gossip and scandal is always present, and empathy is hard to come by. The text is wordy, and the excessive details get overwhelming. I found much of the book to be very boring and I had a tough time staying engaged. I continued to read, because I was hoping something interesting would happen, but in the end, I was disappointed by the story, and I thoroughly disliked the characters. This review is based on an early review copy from LibraryThing.com.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story a great deal, but felt that the ending was a bit rushed which is why I didn't give it a higher rating. In a way, Dervishes is your classic "fish out of water" tale. The main character, Grace, seems out of place both geographically, as this novel is set in Turkey in the mid 70s, as well as within her own family. As the wife of a diplomat, she is flung into the world of "society wives", where the social norms are not what I would consider standard. In addition, she never manages to understand her own daughter, who is growing up moving from diplomatic post to post. The daughter, named Canada, does not have a stable, grounded family life which does nothing to help her adjust socially to her new environment. The only thing that seems to help Canada is horseback riding lessons - that is, until Grace begins an affair with her instructor! And we never really learn what happens to Rand, Grace's husband. Is he shipped out on some secret spy mission, or does he just get fed up with his wife and daughter and leave them for good? All in all, an engaging story set in a part of the world that I don't know much about, which for me was part of the reason I chose to read this book.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected a little bit more about dervishes, but at least this book did give a glimpse of a part of life in Turkey. I did get caught up in the life of Canada and her mother Grace. The story mainly took place in Ankara, Turkey and was told in alternating chapters from Canada and Grace's perspectives (Canada being the preteen daughter and Grace is her mother). Things get rather convoluted in their lives before falling apart. Since the story is based on their perspectives, I am not sure what was the truth - since I imagine that the truth is somewhere between their varying viewpoints. Plus, it was implied that their father/husband was part of a covert military operation and would at times be called away for a secret mission. Living in that sort of situation where secrecy and nondisclosures are the norm, it's no wonder that Canada and Grace would read more into a situation than what was there or shrug some observations off.

[Kallie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent novel about the dangers of being naive, romantic, lacking self-awareness and undereducated, especially as an American living in 'the old world.' These perils unfold through the author's skill with scenic and story development, which heightens drama and suspense in a way that feels very real, free of melodrama yet truly shocking. I have spent a fair amount of time in Turkey and thought the Turkish character(s) beautifully written. Cultural- and self-deception are the subjects of master novelists and 'Dervishes' ranks high for me as a contemporary tale on those themes.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes people aren't noble, they are clumsy and selfish, they do the wrong things, they can't communicate.

I guess if there was anything to get from this novel, that would be it. There is some beautiful writing and descriptions, but overall not such an interesting story. Some things happened, but nothing too interesting. Things kind of fizzle out, kind of like life I guess...

On the whole, not a recommended read.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tight, well written first novel which tells the dark and mysterious story of an American State Department family living in Ankara, Turkey in the 1970's. I enjoyed it not only for the detective story style, but for the view it provides both into being an expat. It brought back memories of Turkey and my Peace Corps stint.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this - the characters were good and believable, there was enough mystery about what was happening in their lives - not everything was spelled out, predictable or obvious. And the glimpse into life as a traveling embassy family was interesting. But ultimately the resolution was unsatisfying.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story - not in a way I'm likely to remember long term, but I enjoyed reading it at the time.

Narrated by Grace and her daughter Canada, living as ex-pats in Turkey in 1975. Living in semi-closed international community, they are highly dysfunctional characters, consistently making poor choices.

So why did I like it? I'm not really sure!

[eb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some excellent writing here, and a few truly great metaphors. But Helm spent too much time polishing up her prose, and not enough thinking through crucial plot points. The revelations in the last 20 pages weren't exciting or shocking; they were fake and impossible to take seriously.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

The descriptions of the setting and daily life in Turkey during the seventies is well done. I felt the author rushed the ending of the novel. Beth Helm leaves it up to the reader's imagination of what may have happened to Canada and her mother Grace.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

a haunting tale; I thought Beth Helms painted an exotic and mysterious picture of life in Ankara---a seemingly perfect mirror to life living abroad, especially given the time and political atmosphere depicted in her work.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read it, thought it was ok but not great. Sort of coming of age. The "event" was underplayed - I didn't really get it as it effected the main character. Maybe that was the point. The consequences had little impact on her life in Turkey.

[Natasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

unsettling and disturbing the entire time. I felt like Helms was onto something but it didn't quite get there, perhaps because the characters just seem like bad people, so it's hard to relate. the writing style is vivid and honest, however.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely literary fiction. Quite rich and subtle in description and plot development. I did not feel that the end left me gasping, as Sara Gruen's blurb on the front cover said. But I didn't see much of it coming. Surprises were well-placed.

[Jean Little · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the book better in the first half with the second half seeming to drag out. The author didn't have enough character development for me to keep interested in the plot.

[Tamara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Takes place in Turkey. Thought there would be more about Turkey but it's mostly about a girl and her melodramtic mother.

[Eloise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kept feeling like the book should be more interesting than it was. It is two stories, mother and daughter, about their adventures in Turkey.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

started out a bit slow, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it.

[Courtney Weil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written, interesting story. A relatively light, easy read.

[Mandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read, but sad in the end. Depressing lives of diplomat's families overseas.