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Run Away
Running away from recent traumatic experiences, Mahir and Peter find refuge in the mystical island of Bali where they meet in spectacular circumstances. Mahir from Istanbul and Peter from New York seem to have nothing in common except a profound sense of loss and melancholy. What brings them together? Has Mahir been cursed because of greed? Will Peter ever surface from a deep depression? They have run away from home but can such an escape ever last for long? In supple, quick-moving prose, Adnan Arduman tells the story of two lost souls and their shared effort to build a new life as they discover the rituals, serenity and exotic beauty of the magical island of Bali.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2018
3 people are currently reading
224 people want to read
About the author
Adnan Arduman
3 books11 followersAdnan Arduman was born in 1953 in Istanbul. After graduating from Lycée Saint-Benoit (a French high school in Istanbul) he went to France to study mechanical engineering in I.N.S.A. de Lyon.
Designed and built his own tube amplifiers, had radio programs in Açık Radyo (Istanbul) and is an amateur photographer specialized in street photography. Currently works in the High End Audio field at Timpani Audio, a company that he had founded in 2003.
Adnan Arduman’s exhibition, “Out of the Doors”, consisting of black and white street photographs, was presented to the viewers at the Schneidertempel Art Center in Istanbul in 2017.
He began writing short stories in 2012 and wrote sixteen of them. The English translation of the novella “Run Away” was published on Amazon.com in 2018. “Komşudaki Hamam Böcekleri” (Cockroaches Of The Neighbor) is Adnan Arduman’s first novel published in December 2021 by YOK.
Designed and built his own tube amplifiers, had radio programs in Açık Radyo (Istanbul) and is an amateur photographer specialized in street photography. Currently works in the High End Audio field at Timpani Audio, a company that he had founded in 2003.
Adnan Arduman’s exhibition, “Out of the Doors”, consisting of black and white street photographs, was presented to the viewers at the Schneidertempel Art Center in Istanbul in 2017.
He began writing short stories in 2012 and wrote sixteen of them. The English translation of the novella “Run Away” was published on Amazon.com in 2018. “Komşudaki Hamam Böcekleri” (Cockroaches Of The Neighbor) is Adnan Arduman’s first novel published in December 2021 by YOK.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 8, 2018
I received Run Away for free in a Goodreads giveaway - this is my honest review.
This book was on the short side, more of a novella than a novel. It features two men from different cultures seeking escape in Bali and their subsequent friendship after a dramatic introduction. Mahir's story was heartbreaking, but Peter's didn't have the same emotional resonance for me. I found it hard to be sympathetic about the problems he brought upon himself, especially after reading about the devastation Mahir experienced. Greed, guilt, and mental illness are among the underlying themes of the book, and I enjoyed the development of the characters throughout their time on the island.
This book was on the short side, more of a novella than a novel. It features two men from different cultures seeking escape in Bali and their subsequent friendship after a dramatic introduction. Mahir's story was heartbreaking, but Peter's didn't have the same emotional resonance for me. I found it hard to be sympathetic about the problems he brought upon himself, especially after reading about the devastation Mahir experienced. Greed, guilt, and mental illness are among the underlying themes of the book, and I enjoyed the development of the characters throughout their time on the island.
March 31, 2018
Great storyline.
April 1, 2018
I received this as a Goodreads giveaway. I hate giving bad reviews, but I really did not like this book. There isn't a plot, per se. The whole story is written in exposition, even the dialogue, with so many ideas/opinions being expounded on that it becomes impossible to determine what the book is actually supposed to be about. Luck (good and bad), Bali, cats, love (or lust), ethics, and more, are some of the themes. There was little to no character development and by the end, I didn't even care what happened to anyone. I read a lot of books by foreign authors and I cut translated books a lot of slack, but even with that extra leniency, this book had few redeeming characteristics. Maybe it's a translation thing, but I think it's probably that the storytelling didn't work for me and the translation couldn't salvage it.
May 1, 2018
I very much enjoyed Runaway. The tragic stories of each character and the serenity of the island of Bali create an intriguing contrast that kept me hooked. This novel is very descriptive and the use of language created vivid imagery to the point I could imagine myself in Bali. Although originally written in Turkish, I thought the English translation worked well in this case and had a nice flow. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an original story.
October 14, 2018
I received a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Although I more or less enjoyed the concept, the sloppy writing style hurt this quick read in a huge way. It came across as quite amateur and clunky, and I had a hard time sticking with it despite how short it really was. I definitely see the potential, but there's a definite need for more editing.
Although I more or less enjoyed the concept, the sloppy writing style hurt this quick read in a huge way. It came across as quite amateur and clunky, and I had a hard time sticking with it despite how short it really was. I definitely see the potential, but there's a definite need for more editing.
April 5, 2022
Run away brings the good out of you.
It is a novella which tells a naïve story with intense emotions. The author builds two different but somehow similar and emotional characters despite their unmatched backgrounds and parachutes them to exotic Bali where at the end everything clicks. As you hear the separate stories of Mahir and Peter, you feel their sadness and maybe even find yourself in each story in a certain way. They grow a bond for strong friendship which is a bit of a destiny in the mystic island of Bali where the power of gods surround you. The strong influence of “goddess” cats on Peter’s life is not maybe a a coincidence. Mahir believes numbers have an impact on his life and relies on numerology . Even for those who have no faith in such things, it makes sense in this book. You think about your own life and some decisions you make and question whether if it is really worth it. The book brings out the generosity buried in everyone’s hearts. Shortly, it is a good feeling read.
It is a novella which tells a naïve story with intense emotions. The author builds two different but somehow similar and emotional characters despite their unmatched backgrounds and parachutes them to exotic Bali where at the end everything clicks. As you hear the separate stories of Mahir and Peter, you feel their sadness and maybe even find yourself in each story in a certain way. They grow a bond for strong friendship which is a bit of a destiny in the mystic island of Bali where the power of gods surround you. The strong influence of “goddess” cats on Peter’s life is not maybe a a coincidence. Mahir believes numbers have an impact on his life and relies on numerology . Even for those who have no faith in such things, it makes sense in this book. You think about your own life and some decisions you make and question whether if it is really worth it. The book brings out the generosity buried in everyone’s hearts. Shortly, it is a good feeling read.
March 28, 2021
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
Although I liked Mahir's journey, something about the writing style was a little off, or clunky-- maybe it is the translation? His story, of facing the past and starting again, is universal. Unfortunately, when I was reading these heartbreaking things he was going through, I didn't really feel them. I didn't get teary or anything-- I stayed a bit removed, instead of being pulled into the emotions of the story.
Peter's story didn't resonate at all-- he caused his own problems. The only one I felt sad for there was the cat.
I think that maybe if I was able to read this in the original language I would rate it higher.
Although I liked Mahir's journey, something about the writing style was a little off, or clunky-- maybe it is the translation? His story, of facing the past and starting again, is universal. Unfortunately, when I was reading these heartbreaking things he was going through, I didn't really feel them. I didn't get teary or anything-- I stayed a bit removed, instead of being pulled into the emotions of the story.
Peter's story didn't resonate at all-- he caused his own problems. The only one I felt sad for there was the cat.
I think that maybe if I was able to read this in the original language I would rate it higher.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews