An Ongoing Affair: Turkey & I

by Heath W. Lowry

Recollections of a Peace Corps volunteer's time spent in a Turkish village in the 1960s.

199 pages, Paperback

First published October 25, 2009

Reviews

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, charming memoir of a Peace Corp volunteer's time early in the Peace Corp program serving in a rural village in Western Anatolia. Mr. Lowry paints a loving portrait of Bereketli's characters and culture. This book describes what must be the beginning of his "ongoing affair" with Turkey as he now holds the Kemal Ataturk Professor Chair of Ottoman and Modern Turkish Studies at Princeton University.

One thing that he speaks of frequently in this book, which is also freqently mentioned in today's literature about the Peace Corps is how Americans are sent abroad with little or no direction of what it is they are supposed to accomplish. It is to Mr. Lowry's credit that he was able to help bring about positive change working with the locals while still knowing his place. He represented his own country very well as a Peace Corps worker.

Recommended for those interested in the Peace Corps or in Turkey.

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I was very interested in this book and Lowry's writing style but I soon started to really loathe his tone. I found it to be at times quite haughty. I understand the people of his village were very fond of him but it seemed to be a reoccurring theme that even in the conclusion bothered me. Was it really necessary to include the Muhtar's letter, in which he further praises him as the village's American savior? Sure, in some ways it was a nice artifact that brought his short vignettes closer to real life, but on the other hand I ended up reading the first few lines and closing the book, never to open it again.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upon our arrival in Ankara, all the Fulbright Scholars in Turkey 2012-2013 were presented with a copy of Heath Lowry's memoirs as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bereketli, Turkey. Out of curiosity for what I myself might expect in my coming months in Turkey (I didn't take into account until I began reading that this story predates mine by about 50 years and takes place in a village) and out of respect for the Peace Corps, I began reading what has been one of the most intriguing stories I've laid my hands on.

Lowry, now a prominent scholar in Turkish studies, owes his career choice and lifelong passion to his experience serving the village people of Bereketli as a rural community developer. His book reads like a man who is recalling favorite stories of his past experiences; rather than presenting a linear, chronological account of events, he shares anecdotes of incidents, projects, problems, sometimes leaping back and forth on the timeline, but always offering enough context and translation for Turkish terms to allow the non-Turkish reader a chance to delve into his memory and experience his years of service with him.

[Xander Mitchell · Rating 3 out of 5]

While staying in Turkey for the summer I was gifted a copy of Heath Lowry's book. A memoir was a nice change of pace from the other literature I had been reading, which had mostly been about Turkish politics and history. Heath Lowry does a good job capturing the idiosyncrasies of Turkish village life using the vignette of his experience in Bereketli as a Peace Corps volunteer in 1964-65.

I have trouble understanding why Lowry decided to write the book. He claims it has to do with his own forthcoming death, yet I wonder if the ultimate goal was to paint himself as a hero. The tales he chooses to share seem to highlight the distinct sense of being out of place the entire time, yet he is able to accomplish great things according to his recollection. That's not to say he did not do great things for the village - and I don't mean to villify Lowry, who actually concedes in the introduction that he may be exaggerating his heroism - but I did get a "look at the praise I received for saving these poor Turks" vibe from the writing.

All in all, I'm glad I read this piece, and if you're looking for a quick read about Turkish village life, consider Lowry's memoir.

3.5 stars

[Charles Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful. Written in conversational English, this book recounts the author's experiences as a Peace Corps volunteer in a village in Balıkesir province, northwest Turkey. The tale is deceptively simple. But the short chapters, each focusing on a particular incident, add up to a comprehensive look at a small, poor village with few facilities at a time just before big developmental changes were about to take place in Turkey. Numerous villagers are vividly shown to us, and we understand and feel the author's attachments clearly. Thanks to this chance Peace Corps assignment, Heath Lowry became hooked by the country and its people and went on to PhD study in Ottoman and Turkish history, eventually becoming a professor at Princeton. It's the many decades of familiarity with Turkey following his stint in Bereketli that underpin this presentation and give it its authenticity. Even if the book seems anecdotal, the larger significance of what Lowry experienced is always felt. I do hope a sequel is in the works.