Middle East/North African Lit discussion

Here are the books that we read from Turkey so far:
The Bastard of Istanbul in here
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Istanbul: Memories and the City
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

My Name Is Red
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Birds Without Wings
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Museum of Innocence
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Summer's End
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Forty Rules of Love
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Three Daughters of Eve
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The Architect's Apprentice
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...



*Please share your nominations in here

I'm planning to read Last Train to Istanbul. I think some of you have already read it. If you want to open a discussion thread and post our ideas together, let us know!

I'm currently reading The Forty Rules of Love. It's ok so far, but I don't think it is her best novel.

These days I will be starting I Will Never See the World Again, my first experience with this writer.

I read The Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak. It was disappointing and not her best work.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I recommend The Architect's Apprentice if you want to read something by Elif Shafak.

I've liked everything I've read from Elif Shafak
Three Daughters of Eve was my least favourite, although I still enjoyed it.
My favourite is for sure The Architect's Apprentice, but Honor was very powerful and deeply moved me as well.
I personally very much enjoyed The Forty Rules of Love, not quite as much as the former two I mentioned, but still enjoyed them and I liked The Bastard of Istanbul too.

Melanie wrote: "I'm planning to read Last Train to Istanbul. I think some of you have already read it. If you want to open a discussion thread and post our ideas together, let us know!"

I read it for last years challenge. Its great!

10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World was recommended by Yaman.

Melanie wrote: "I'm planning to read Last Train to Istanbul. I think some of you have already read it. If you want to open a discussion thread and post our ideas together, let us know!"
I want to read this one but so far I can not reach a copy.

Elif Shafak has a new book out 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World.
Has anyone read it?
I am debating buying it or not. I found her last one Three Daughters of Eve was not as good as the other novels of hers I have read.

I have it on my TBR. But I have hesitated to pick it up for the same reason as you, Jalilah.

I didn't think her Three Daughters of Eve was good, and I wasn't that impressed with The Forty Rules of Love. I've really only enjoyed The Architect's Apprentice and The Bastard of Istanbul.

Jalilah wrote: "Elif Shafak has a new book out 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World.
Has anyone read it?
I am debating buying it or not. I found her last one [book:Three D..."
I've read both. And the books are totaly different. For my the "Three daughters" was far more better than the "10 Minutes". But the last book was discused in my readinggroup hier, and some women had liked it, because there where so many interesting relationships in the book. For me, the language was not so "fine" as in the "Three daughters". And the story was not mine. But I've read both books in german!

I nominate A Mind At Peace, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar.

Istanbul on the Eve of WW II. Traditionalism vs Modernity.

“The greatest novel ever written about Istanbul.” Orhan Pamuk

I’m still reading it. See what you think.

I did not read anything for Elif Shafak so far , I was considering reading The Architect's Apprentice for this category as I finally have a copy.


Nan wrote: "I nominate A Mind At Peace, Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar.

Istanbul on the Eve of WW II. Traditionalism vs Modernity.

“The greatest novel ever written about Istanbul.” Orhan Pamuk

I’m still reading it. ..."

Thanks for nominating A Mind at Peace ! .Please keep us updated.

Hi everyone !
I would like to read " A mind At Peace " as well, but mire likely for the historical category rather than for Turkey. ( I had lately read a book from Faycak bey, the descendant of the last bey in Tunisia and he wrote about his grand mother who was an odalisque and raised in Turkey within the beginning of the last century).
So I nominate as well " A mind at Peace" and " Flea market" from Elif Shafak mainly because I have not heard people talking about this book from her, so I will use this book for this category .
Please let me know if anyone is interested in either of these book :)
Stay safe.

Correction:
The book's title is " The flea Palace " rather than the flea market.Sorry for the confusion.

I t will be great if we can have a group read for a book from Turkey, I do not have a copy of A Mind at Peace but I will be interested in following the discussion.

Majdouline wrote: "Correction:
The book's title is " The flea Palace " rather than the flea market.Sorry for the confusion."
I've a copy of the german edition of the Flea Palace in my bookshelves. So I'm interesting to read it together with you and someone else?

Niledaughter wrote: "I did not read anything for Elif Shafak so far , I was considering reading The Architect's Apprentice for this category as I finally have a copy.
Nan wrote: "I no..."

I suspect you'll enjoy The Architect's Apprentice.
I think its her best!

@Johanna, I will be happy to read it with you and anyone else interested :). By the way I bought Marzahn based on your recommandation for the German challenge.

@Jalilah , you really intrigued me with The architects Apprentice I will defo put it in my wishlist.
My favorite from her is "Black Milk" sofar . Have you read it ?

Majdouline, Black Milk is also my favorite by her so far. Also, I’m currently reading Last Train to Istanbul. Enjoying it.

Nice, so we can write german then? My english is very basic yet. And Mahrzahn was ok? I had met her at a bookpresentation in Zürich. How do you want to discuse the Flea Markt book. A discussion here or a Whatsapp group?

We can also read the Architect book, then I try to find a copy.

Jalila,
Thanks for the encrougment, it has been on my tbr list for a while now.

Johanna,
The group hosted two discussions for the book, I will provide links when I am on my computer, we can read it and add to the latest one. :)

Melanie,
please keep us updated about "Last train to Istanbul" .

@niledaughter, thank you for arranging the links. @joanna, we could liaise there.Bis dann :)

@melanie, I am gmad to hear that someone else love Black Milk, thank you for the headsup on Last Train, I ll defo check the book out!

I just finished Last Train to Istanbul, and it was excellent! Thanks to Jalilah and others for recommending it to me. I'll be adding more books by Ayşe Kulin to my reading list!

@melanie, you convinced me I have just ordered the book :)

Oh, I hope you like it!

I updated the list of the books we read from Turkey so far in the first two messages. If I am not mistaken most of them are by Orhan Pamuk or Elif Shafak, I wish we can read more by other Turkish authors.

Note:
If anyone is interested:
The 10 Best Books by Turkish Authors
https://theculturetrip.com/europe/tur...

https://www.theguardian.com/books/200...

Goodreads lists
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...

@niledaughter, quick note related to your observation about other turkish authors, my kurdish friend has suggested me to read " Every fire you tend" from Sema Kaygusuz who deals with an operation from the governement to eradicate the zaza - speaking Alevi Kurds before the 2 e world war. I have not read it yet but that may interest some. I know that i would also love to learnore about this topic.

Majdouline wrote: "@niledaughter, quick note related to your observation about other turkish authors, my kurdish friend has suggested me to read " Every fire you tend" from Sema Kaygusuz who deals with an operation f..."

I found a thread we made before for Kurdish litrature
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I believe this is the book you are considering Every Fire You Tend

@niledaughter, Thank you !!!!! :)!

I'll be reading Memed, My Hawk by Yaşar Kemal for this challenge. Has anybody read it?

Niledaughter wrote: "I updated the list of the books we read from Turkey so far in the first two messages. If I am not mistaken most of them are by Orhan Pamuk or Elif Shafak, I wish we c..."

Thanks for recommendations.

I’m still reading A Mind At Peace. I especially like the character Yasar.
I don’t have a way On my keyboard to write the s. Sorry.

Here is a favorite sentence:
Yasar loomed as a true neurotic side effect caused by the cooperation between modern science and marketing for the betterment of humankind.

Two more books on my TBR pile are
Motherland Hotel, Yusuf Atilgan
I Stared At The Night Of The City, Bakktiyar Ali
The book says it is the first Kurdish novel to be translated into English.

Nan wrote: "I’m still reading A Mind At Peace. I especially like the character Yasar.
I don’t have a way On my keyboard to write the s. Sorry.
Here is a favorite sentence:
Yasar loomed as a true neurotic side..."

Thanks for sharing, I will add
Motherland Hotel
I Stared at the Night of the City
To the bookshelves,

I am getting so much out of reading I Will Never See This Works Again by Ahmet Altan. I am pacing myself as it is such a great read - so personal and moving. One of the best explorations I have read about what it is like to be a political prisoner.

Richard wrote: "I am getting so much out of reading I Will Never See This Works Again by Ahmet Altan. I am pacing myself as it is such a great read - so personal and moving. One of the best explorations I have rea..."

Thanks ! I am glad you are enjoying it.
I will add I Will Never See the World Again as well :)

I will read My Name Is Red in February for No 9 in the challenge.

Orgeluse wrote: "I will read My Name Is Red in February for No 9 in the challenge."

Orgeluse, I read that a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I hope you do, too.

Tamara wrote: "Orgeluse wrote: "I will read My Name Is Red in February for No 9 in the challenge."

Orgeluse, I read that a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it. I hope you do, too."

Thanks Tamara, I am looking forward to this read as I like talking trees 😊

I am currently reading Bliss by Zülfü Livaneli for this category. Up to now it's very promising . It covers series as well as controversial subject matter ( honour killings, the Turkish-Kurdish conflict, the Armenian genocide, as well as the Westernization of Turkey) yet it is highly readable.
I am happy to find a new Turkish author I did not know about!

So I highly recommend Bliss! Here is my review!
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Will have to add Bliss to the list, Jalilah! Thanks for the recommendation.

The author is Turkish, but the novel it’s self has nothing to do with Turkey White on White by Aysegül Savas

My Turkish reads:

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin. Here is my review

Orhan's Inheritance by Aline Ohanesian. Here is my review

The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak. Here is my review

Rachel wrote: "My Turkish reads:

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin. Here is my review

[book..."

Wow Rachel, I’m finding out about new books through you!
I read The Last Train to Istanbul and the Architect’s Apprentice ( twice in fact because I loved it so much) but Orhan’s Inheritance is new to me! Thanks again!

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Turkish Iranian Marjan Kamali is a bittersweet love story set amongst the turbulent times of the 1953 political coup in Iran. Here is my review

Without a Country by Ayşe Kulin* (Turkey) 16 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review

Thanks for the suggestion! I have Ayse Kulin's Farewell by Ayse Kulin to read next, but I'll keep that one in mind. I read Last Train to Istanbul and liked it.

Rachel wrote: "Without a Country by Ayşe Kulin* (Turkey) 16 Dec 2024 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ my review"

Melanie wrote: "Thanks for the suggestion! I have Ayse Kulin's Farewell by Ayse Kulin to read next, but I'll keep that one in mind. I read Last Train to Istanbul and liked it."

I only discovered Ahmet Altan in 2024 when I read Lady Lifefor the challenge. I really enjoyed his style and look forward to reading more books from him!