What book are you reading at the moment, who is the author and what made you want to read it and did you enjoy it?

My lastest read is:

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Fiction

It is based at the time if the civil war in Nigeria in 1960 and how three lives intersect with one another. One is the house boy Ugwu, second in Olanna, who married the master of the house boy and the third is Richard the boyfriend of her sister. It is a bit slow to begin with, until you get to know the charactures then it becomes absorbing as the war breaks out and what some of us remember as Biafra is written about. The ending is abrupt and you want it to finish by telling you where all the charactures are, but you are left wondering.

I chose this book because I wanted to read something difference from my usual type of real life stories. The front cover also catches you eye and the reviews are good.

I enjoyed reading it, not the best book I have read, but all the same contains some very interesting description.

I have just read 'sevdalim hayat -zulfu livaneli'.(it is turkish btw)
It is about his life, his memories.
It is a kind of book as soon as you start to read, you want to finish it.

The second book I am still reading is 'The God delusion-Richard Dawkins'

I've just finished Jodi Picoult 'Nineteen Minutes'. A wonderful read!

In the meantime, I keep reading websites with baby names...a tedious, dull and, above all, irritating read

I am still trying - and mostly failing - to read some assorted Turkish children's book that I have.......

I am sooooo excited. Just picked up the new "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich...

The Stolen Child....Kevin Donohue. It is kind of a strange book but I can't seem to put it down. It is about a boy who is stolen by a changeling and how their lives intersect. It is oddly fascinating and quite a departure from my usual repertoire of historical fiction.

Now I am reading these classic novels=

1-Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
2-Adolphe by Benjamin Constant
3-Victoria by Knut Hamsun
4-The Stranger by Albert Camus
5-White Nights by Dostoyevski
6-Yeşil Gece by Reşat Nuri Güntekin
7-Huzur by Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar

Time planning

I am now reading "The Tenderness of Wolves" by Steph Penny. It won the Costa Coffee book award in 2006 I think.

It is set in 1867 in the Canadian outback. The main charactures are migrants from Scotland and Norway to the Canada and it starts with a murder as all good books do.

The main charactures seventeen year old son dissappears and is hence accused of the murder. Different groups of people set out in search of the lad, all with their own reasons for wanting to find him.

The story is interwoven with many underlying themes, love, greed, inter-racial relationships and an unsolved previous town mystery.

It is easy to lose track of who everyone is to begin with, but you soon build empathy with some of them and distaste at others. But it is a good read, and had I not left the book at work today I would have finished it tonight! I guess it will have a pointnant ending although I cannot guess what it will be.

I would certainly recommend it!

"Brida"by Paulo Coelho in my mother tongue together with "il retorno del profeta"in Italian by author called himself anonymous..from time to time i put them off to read Antonio Machado poems and "the Little Prince"the book i always get back....for tomorrow"The voice of knowledge"by Don Miguel Ruiz and "don Juan"by carlos castaneda are waiting....

I am interested in the novel "The Tenderness of Wolves" by Steph Penny.which was recommended by Libralady.

I could not find this book in the bookstores, Ankara, today.But I will try to get it.

I just finished “The Other Boleyn Girl” by Phillipa Gregory.
Now I am reading “We Need to Talk About Kevin” by Lionel Shriver…..…..well I guess I should say I am trying to read it. I started it months ago and it is difficult to read. It is comprised of letters from a woman to her ex-husband, detailing their lives and what lead to their only son going on a shooting rampage at his high-school. It is gripping and well-written but very disturbing.
I just purchased “Sundays at Tiffany’s” by James Patterson….hoping that will be a little lighter fare...and after that I have “Reading Lolita in Teheran” by Azar Nafisi on tap.

I am listening Duma (Stephen King) instead of reading but since I do that at bed, no luck, everytime I press that little play button in my Creative Zen, I fall a sleep. I am afraid that if this continues to go like this, someday near soon I will wake up in the middle of the night and hear the end of the story

knight of the black rose second in the ravenloft series. I just finished all of Nora Roberts books now I have wait for her new one to come out.

For Leelu,
Nora Roberts is a famous novelist for Turkish readers.
I have just read her only one novel-its name is "THE VILLA" = (Bernardo Baptista, Sophie, Jeremy DeMorney, Evans,Tyler, teraza, Donata, Anthony, Marshall, Tony,Pilar, Gina, Giambelli family story)

I'm reading 'The Janissary Tree' by Jason Goodwin. It is about some murders of the modern soldiers of good families in İstanbul in 1836, which (probably, havent finished the book yet) are linked to the janissaries revolts a decade before (or smt). The sultan asks from Yashim the eunuch to solve the mysteries.

The reviews on the book were very positive, stating it has got all you may expect from a good novel, that it is really literature but reads like a detective, exotic, historical etc. It is a nice book to read, but I wouldnt have bought it on second thought. The sentences are short and simplistic and the writer, has a 'square' way of writing, whereas I prefer 'round' where sentences just flow from one to another. But it's a good book to read in the train or something.

Have you read "Three Fates" or "Born in Ice/fire/shame" series? the Key series is also a great set. I cannot wait for her new one in July to come out. ..

Lisey's Story - Stephen King. ( I am so NOT an intellectual!! )

I am reading now these two short novels=

1- White Nights (Белые ночи (1848), by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Nastenka Story in St.Petesburg

2- The First Teacher ("Первый учитель", 1962), by chingiz Aytmatov Cengiz Aymatov
Duyuşen Story

I advise you to read these beautiful novels.

Yes, thank you...
"I recommend you to read those beautiful novels..."

I have just finished Reading the kite runner by khaled hosseini
its about 2 boys growing up in afghanistan, I saw the movie first and it was a very good interperpation of the book, a very moving story. Now I am Reading his next novel A Thousand Splendid Suns. Its about the friendship that develops between two women growing up and living in afghanistan, I´m half way through it and think I need another box of tissues. Its just as heart-wrenching as his first novel.

I am reading lots of texbooks right now... but I have some books that I want to read:
Parecon: Life after Capitalism (Michael Albert)
Men Speak Out: Views on Gender, Sex and Power (Shira Tarrant)
Beauty and Misogyny: Harmful cultural practices in the West (Sheila Jeffreys)
Hegemony or Survival: America´s quest for Global Dominance (Noam Chomsky)
Not for Sale: Feminists resisting prostitution and pornography (C. Stark, R. Whisnant)...
and many more

No I haven´t but I may if I enjoy this one.

I started reading "The Kite Runner" at the weekend and I have nearly finished it today.

I was reading it on the train this morning and I had tears in my eyes and again tonight. It is a long time since I read a book that is so moving and I can´t wait to read The Thousand Splendid Suns.

I, too, have just finished reading ´A Thousand Splendid Suns´. And after I finish those few books on my To-read list, I will be on Kite Runner! After ´A Thousand Splendid Suns´, I´m not reading ´Light on Snow´ by Anita Shreve. Next in line is ´Nobody´s Child´ by Michael Seed with Noel Botham. And ´The Choice´ by Nicholas Sparks. And then Kite Runner!

i´ve just finished reading "the kite runner". amazing book. i have "a thousand splendid suns" lined up to read.

but right now, i am reading "in turkey i am beautiful" by brendan shanahan, and "blackwood farm" by anne rice (which i have been reading forever, but haven´t been able to get into yet).

Yeah! I think A thousand Splendid Suns & Kite Runner are two very very popular books in recent times!

teaschip! I have been reading Mary Higgins Clark since young. And nicholas sparks is one of my favourite too! Along with Stuart Woods!

The last three weeks I read or re-read 10 thrillers of Barbara Nadel that all take place in Istanbul, absolutely recommendable. Now I´m reading a thriller by David Morell, about CIA/MI5/KGB/Mossad hitmen.

I´m currently reading Nobody´s Child and I cannot imagine how sad a boy´s life can get. The saddest of it is that this is actually a true story...

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

İ just love this one

Just finished A Chemical Prison by Barbara Nadel - the book I´m reviewing for Sunday´s Zaman this week.

I love her detective novels set in Istanbul.

 Have you read her latest already, Marion? ´A passion for killing´? About a serial killer targeting gay men in the streets of Istanbul. A very good book!

 Theres a brand new one out this week!

Pretty Dead Things.

Here is the publishers blurb:

When Emine Aksu, the flamboyant wife of an Istanbul style guru, suddenly goes missing, Inspector Cetin Ikmen´s investigation leads him deep into her strange and colourful past.Emine was a hippie when she was younger, who wholeheartedly enjoyed the liberated lifestyle that swept across Istanbul in the sixties. Her husband suspects that she was visiting an old friend at the time of her disappearance. Meanwhile, Inspector Mehmet Suleyman is called to a terrifying scene at the art deco Kamondo Stairs in the old banking district of Karakoy. The skeleton of a woman has been discovered in one of the large plant containers. Could these two bizarre incidents be linked?

 Thanks! It´s on my to-buy-list!

 Link to the review if you´re curious:

http://www.sundayszaman.com/sunday/detaylar.do?load=detay&link=150401

Currently reading Orhan Pamuk´s Snow for next week´s review.

Now, I am a great hater of Pamuk´s other works, but I really like this one!  I´m on page 350 out of 425 or so....

Reading ´Turkish butterflies´ (Turkse vlinders), a Dutch novel about a love that didn´t last but also gives lots of inside information.

I am reading Pullman´s trilogy-His Dark Materials:Nortern Lights,The Subtle Knife and The Amber Telescope..Cool books-science fiction and a lil epic like Tolkien´s (though i admite NO ONE can reach Tolkien´s maestri)..It´s like fairy tails for grown ups!!!

Just read the "Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" back to back.  What brilliant books to read, albeit with tears in my eyes, especially the Kite Runner, which I found the far more emotional book.  I think the Thousand Splendid Suns is a little more predictable which takes the sting out of the emotional bits.

Now in search of something new to read.

 I found it opposite: A Thousand Spledid Suns ´did´ more to me emotionally.

You could try books of Kader Abdolah, an Iranian refugee who writes now in Dutch (but some books are translated in English). His latest is called ´The Koran, a translation´ and ´The Messenger - about prophet Muhammed´s life´. I have read several books of this author and I like them very much.

I just finished reading "Feminist Theory: from margin to center" by Bell Hooks. I highly recommend this book and especially the author, Bell Hooks is one of my most favorite feminists. Her writing is truly revolutionary - she is challenging a lot of feminist ideas and substituting them with very honest and brilliant thinking. Marvellous book, do check her out.

For my review this week I just read Honour Killings by Ayşe Önal. A wonderful, if harrowing book, about the tragic practice of killing a woman deemed to have damaged the family´s honour.  Ayşe interviewed a number of men in prison for this crime to try to understand what made them do it.  The result is an amazing study, and very very very moving tales of the tragically short lives of some Turkish women.

In Turkish or English?

Looks like there is an English version of this book: Honor Killings, Ayse Onal

Currently reading: Madam President´s choice by Anne Holt

Short review from some booksite:

The newly-elected American president visits Oslo for their national drinking holiday on May 17 and gets herself kidnapped. You read that right, and no it is not Hillary, ´cause this president met Hillary and got some advice from her: Trust no one but your husband, and only him if he is still with you.

The book has some interesting explanations of how left-out Americans feel, and describes a great plot to destroy America from the inside. No, not hijack any planes. Just deprive them of gasoline, TV and shopping malls, and they´ll overthrow the government of their own accord.

***********

I´m halfway now and I must say I love it!

Sorry, no ISBN or publisher known as I´m reading it in Dutch.

The Majority Rules - Eugene Sullivan

Present day story about a lawyer discovering corruption at its peak.

While on his way to a judicial appointment, he´s faced with ´going along´

or a for a chance to make a difference.....

Also ´The Shack´ - William Young

Present day story about a man/wife who lost their little 6 year old

daughter to kidnap and possibly murder. MacKenzie, the girl´s father, receives

an invitation to dinner by someone named ´Papa´ in a letter. 

Only, the dinner is to be at ´ The Shack ´...the name his wife gave to the

place they found Missy´s last remnants.....

Both excellent books...

:  >

Just started ´A Thousand Splendid Suns´ - I think I´m going to enjoy it.

 I was kinda dissapointed by that book. It is a bit superficial and soap-like, though it provides some interesting insights on Turkish men and relationships with them, especially because it is a ´true´ story. I remember when she was going to sleep with the guy the first time, and he didnt want to use a condom ´because Allah would protect him from aids/pregnancy´ (not sure which one!)

They are going to make a documentary about that book. I met the writer to talk about me and Kadir, but I dont think they can ´use us´ because we dont have a relationship that is filled with the regular prejudice about these kind of relationships

Orhan Pamuk - Masumiyet Müzesi

Pamuk´s latest novel, ´The Innocence Museum´. Guess it will be translated to English soon!

I have read the first 40 pages now, and so far it seems to me as one of those books that you skip your nights rest for

I´m still - after 2 years - halfway Snow, I gave away my copy of Istanbul and now for weeks The Black Book is waiting. His style is.... hmm, not my favorite.

 Well you definitely picked the 2 wrong books to start reading Orhan Pamuk.. İstanbul is very veyr different from the other books, also the style. Though I loved that book, with all its details, it wasnt as (meeslepend?) impressive as the other ones, and Snow is his first and last political novel, with a harder style.

Black Book on the other hand, is really good and ´reads as a train´ (), I can also recommend the White Castle.

 Agree.  the only one I actually enjoyed reading was the White Castle.

I`ve read half way through the black book, I will finish it up when I have time. His writing style is tasteless to say the least. I think this guy thinks writing long sentences makes him look more intellectual.

Mayada, Daughter of Iraq - Jean Sasson - the story of a woman´s survival in Iraq.

- not sure about this one, despite the subject ´One Woman´s Survival in Saddam Hussein´s Torture Jail´ - I don´t think its particularly well-written and the writing style is a bit ´girly´ for my taste.

The Long Way Down, by Ewan McGregor (of Trainspotting and Star Wars fame)  and Charlie Borman.

These intrepid travellers decided to travel around the world on motor bikes about three years ago, along came book and film etc etc.

This was so successful they devided to ride the Long Way Down, from John O´Groats (Northern tip of Scotland) to Cape Town South Africa.

The support Unicef and visit unicef run projects on their way.

It is a good read, written as they are both speaking, i.e. taking it in turns, and you get a different perspective on one situation.

I would highly recommend this book and the Long Way Round - any motorcycle enthusiasts would love the adventure!

Masumiyet Müzesi (The Innocence Museum) by Orhan Pamuk, a novel.

2008 September, İletişim Yayınları, 592 pages.

Is there a friend who has read these novels?

1-"The Dark Side"   by Jane Mayer  (USA)

2-"The Obama Nation "  by Jerome and Corsi (USA)

3-"The Post-American World "  by fareed Zakaria (USA)

4-" In the dark "  by Mark Bilingham (UK)

5-"The return " by Victoria Hislop (UK)

6- "Someone special " by Sheila O´ flanagan (UK)

7--"When Will There be Good News? " by Kate Atkinson (UK)

8--"Angel Uncovered " by Katie Price (UK)

9-"Le fait du prince" by Amelia Nothomb (France)

10-"Ce que le jour doit a la nuit" by Yasmina Khadra (France)

 No, none of these are on my shelf.  For info Yilgin, Katie Price is otherwise known as Jordon, a glamour model in the UK,  and for one I would not buy any of her books.

Victoria Hislop is an aclaimed writer in the UK, married to the satorial journalist Ian Hislop.  The other UK writers I have not heard of.

An e-mail someone sent to me.  It contained this story:

"Moral of the story is too Good...................................

 

A giant ship engine failed. The ship´s owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a young. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom. Two of the ship´s owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars. ´What?!´ the owners exclaimed. ´He hardly did anything!´ So they wrote the old man a note saying, ´Please send us an itemized bill.´ The man sent a bill that read: Tapping with a hammer...... ......... ........ $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap.......... ......... ...... $ 9,998.00 

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort makes all the difference  "

Puzzled

I am very much interested in Paul Auster (An American novelist) ´  novels.

Have you seen his new novel named "KARANLIKTAKİ ADAM= " THE MAN IN THE DARK " )  in your country (USA, England, etc)´s book stores in English?

Soner Yalçın - Siz Kimi Kandırıyorsunuz

Re-reading Judge Ooka stories, Japanese tales about a 18th century philosophical Japanese judge. Very nice, great plots and answers to court cases.

1-Politika ( Politics)  by  Aristoteles

2-Devlet (The State) by Platon (Eflatun)

Were you on the G&Ts again LL!! - I think you meant satirical journalist!  And I´m sure Yilgun would really enjoy Mrs Andre´s latest offering!!

I am currently reading ´Size 14 is not fat either´ by Meg Cabot

(It´s very funny!)

Just finished the Long Way Down and I must say, not a patch on Long Way Round.  Not such an interesting journey I felt and one African country sounded very much like the next one.  Really skipped the journey through Namibia to South Africa in a few pages.

So I am now beginning the latest Joh Le Carre book, "A most Wanted Man".  A spy book about a Russian Muslim, so it says in the front cover........................... it begins:

A Turkish heavy weight boxing champion sauntering down a Hamburg Street with his mother on his arm can scarcely  be blammed for failing to notice that he is being shadowed by a skinny boy in a black coat..........................

´Dinner of Herbs´ by Carla Grissmann  -  a travelogue of autobiographical experiences in remote Anatolia in the 1960´s - fascinating and informative read

Two O´clock Eastern Wartime - John Dunning

Tale of an outcast novelist writing scripts for a Radio Station in 1942 New Jersey, 

looking for a radio actor friend of his, at the same time hoping to hook up with 

the lost love of his life who now sings in clubs.

:  >

Getting Lost: Mishaps of an Accidental Nomad   by    Dave  Fox

Tony Wheeler´s Bad Lands (founder of the Lonely Planet) - about ´evil´ countries. Guess which is number one on his list? (No, of course not Turkey!)

Evil Britain?

Evil Amerika?

(By the way, I think you spelled it wrong, it should be "Bed Lands" )

 Amerika is mentioned in a way, but not in the top-10. About Britain, I think Tony forgot that....

PS. Sory vor my bet speling....

Gardens of Water by Alan Drew. 

Quote: ´A powerful story of survival and love ´Gardens of Water´ follows the seismic shocks that reverberate through two families in the aftermath of Turkey´s devastating earthquake of 1999´

Right now I´m reading two books, Bernal Diaz, Historian of the Conquest by Herbert Cerwin, and The Life and Death of Gandhi by Robert Payne.

Chlorine Derivatives of Syndiotactic Polybutadiene

By M. I. Abdullin, A. B. Glazyrin, R. N. Asfandiyarov, V. R. Akhmetova and V. N. Zaboristov

 Hehehe just a bit of "light reading" then eh Vineyards

I was about to complain on how I am struggling to finish Orhan Pamuk´s book, Istanbul: memories and the city,  but seeing what Vineyards is reading I better not

I heard of military and political tactics but syndiotactic is new to me.

 .....and do you recommend it? 

No but there is a book which I keep reading for many years: The Attic Nights of Aulus Gellius.

Originally written in the first century by Gellius, it is full of ancient stories that would otherwise be lost.

nothing like a bit of east end violence to get you through the night!!

 She´s dead ´ard that Martina Cole!! 

I am reading a great and fascinating book that every woman should read!!! It´s called "The Cinderella Complex -- women´s hidden fear of independence" by Colette Dowling

The Cinderella Complex -- an interview with teh author, absolutely mind blowing!!!

 That´s an oldie, I read it when I was 19! From 1981, don´t you think things have changed in more than 25 years?

Trudy, we can calculate your age easily. Such a faux pas

yes, it´s an old book and sadly there are no new prints of it! but I was actually thinking the same thing -- ´did things change since she wrote this book´, and I must say NO. I think what she said in the book is still important to teach today. I think that massive numbers of women, most women that I know still are looking for a man to make them happy, make pursuit for a man the main theme of their lives and if they don´t have one, they don´t feel whole. I myself was raised on ´cinderella type of stories´ too, all walt disney movies feed little girls with messages that they need to be saved by a man, that that´s the ultimate happiness... this has not changed at all, and so this book´s message is not any less important then it was 25 years ago. I am in fact disappointed that women are not talking about their ´cinderella complexes´, that they don´t seem to notice it... that there´s not more dialogue and effort to un-learn it...

 It was never a secret, Vineyards, in April I´ll be 46.

Don´t agree. Women I know are much more independent than 25 years ago. Maybe the country you are from/live in determines the type of independency? A man? Yes, nice but not as the ultimate goal of life. Women want to study, a career, and only after that they think about a man and/or children (not necessarily together, not here). I know many women with a good life, career, own house, and they choose for a relationship that gives them something instead of being ´servants´ in the relationship to their men. Also women who don´t want to marry, who say: My life is fine, I have everything I need and for the physical part of life I´ll choose short-term relations (not just one night stands!!) or what we call here a LAT-relationship (Living Apart Together, both your own house). Selfish? Probably, but not more than men who think a women is ´just´ a wife, good for clesning, cooking and sex. And there are still plenty of those men.

I will turn 42 on December 22nd.

Two of my favourite writers -especially at this time of the year- are Coelho and Pamuk. I think these two have already created a style of their own telling stories developing around similar themes which they present with different authentic flavours.

I grew up reading  Dostoyevsky, Lermentov, Turgenyev and Aytmatov who are the European representatives of now extinct Eurepean literature. There used to be prominent writers like the Polish Henry Sienkiewicz, Czech Vaclav Havel. When we move  further West we need to travel back in time more to find a reputable writer. In America Steinback and Hemingway are relatively close to present day, in France, Germany and Italy there are writers but neither their number nor their impact does any justice to the influence their nations have. I may be wrong but the last reputable Dutch writer must be Erasmus who was a Renaissance writer.

Yep. You are wrong. If you take Pamuk as a good writer (Good but I don´t think he´s from the same level as those Russians you mention), then we have quite some good ones too. Writers like J.C. Bloem, Anna Blaman, C. Buddingh´, Andreas Burnier, Remco Campert, Frederik van Eeden, Harry Mulisch, Multatuli (Eduard Douwes Dekker), Gerard Reve and many more are famous. I think most of them have titles that are translated in English.

"Prominent" is the word. Pamuk won the Nobel so let´s give him some credit. I have not heard of the Dutch writers you wrote about. Maybe it is because I read mostly technical books these days as part of my job.

As for the Soviet writers on the list. Of course they were good and just like we cannot have another Mohammad Ali we cannot have writers like them because we cannot replicate the circumstance that created them.

I´m glad if that´s the situation in Netherlands. And... of course what I think reflects where I live.

Unfortunately, I gave up on all my fun reading...

 you´ll get time again

probably when I´m 85...

 you will most probably be blind and senile by then so won´t care anyway

thanks for the optimistic reminder!

Willigis Jager-A wave is the sea

German monk and master of zen,incredible book.

When Crickets Cry - Charles Martin

A 7 year old girl with a heart defect selling lemonade

trying to save money for a heart transplant...meeting

a stranger with a painful past.....a terrible accident...

....and how fate brought her and that stranger together

once again

:  >

re-reading, actually...

Apuleius The Golden Ass

stated to be the first novel in history - appart from some greek writings - it is the story of a young noble man Lucius who, by wanting to get involved in magic, ends up being transformed in a... donkey. He has long journey to pass before he regains his human features.

Kurt Vonnegut "A Man Without a Country"

Rereading 3rd time.

Last book of this great author, so sarcastic, bright sence of humor and huge expierence of life .... just how to be a good human being ....

Melih Cevdet Anday - Raziye

I have read two thirds of it, and don´t have any idea how it´s going to end.

The story is about 3 persons. One is a young man who runs away from his busy life and goes to pass some time with his old uncle in a western turkish village, and falls in love with a beautiful girl who is adopted by this man.

The book of Urantia

quite a new insight by anonymous writer into Universe creation,history of civilisation,christianity and the fate of mankind.

Apuleius, still...

And " A Room with a View " by E.M. Forster

The Secret Supper - Javier Sierra

A complicated work of fiction about Leonardo Da Vinci´s famous ´ coded ´

painting ´ -  The Last Supper

:  >

I am trying to read a small Turkish children´s book called:

Filler Arabalarýn Üzerine Oturmaz

But I am not doing very well - I haven´t managed the first page yet

I just finished reading Puslu Kitalar Atlasi (Atlas of Foggy Continents) by Oktay Ihsan Anar. That` s such a well written novel and definitely underrated. I don`t think it`s available in foreign languages.

and now I`m reading Son Ada (The Last Island), the latest novel of Livaneli.

 The first one is available in English and in German (Der Atlas unsichtbarer Kontinente).

but I`m sure you haven`t read it

 Right. You said you thought it isn´t available in other languages and I just wanted to be helpful.

ok, did I say you were wrong?, why are you being fierce now?

 I´m not fierce. It just sounded sarcastic from your side.

I wasn`t not being sarcastic but you`re being boring now

 I guess I learned it from the master......

who is it? Yilgun?

 Don´t be so modest, canim.

I enjoyed Beyond the Orchard by Azize Ethem last week ... it is a good analysis of the concept of "yabanci". As a Kiwi she is accepted into the village more than the flash Turks from the city.

Now reading Foreign Devils on the Silk Road. Fascinating book by Peter Hopkirk on the stealing of antiques from Xinjiang province (bit similar to LÝRs column this week ....)

 Libralady not me!!!

 Hahahaha how nice to get credit for your article!

Stamps feet............ storming off now for reminding me  now going to look at wiki about Adana´s horsies   (Will probably help me sleep better tonight  

LE DEREGLEMENT DU MONDE - ÇÝVÝSÝ ÇIKMIÞ DÜNYA

by AMIN MAALOUF

Having just read the brilliant biography, Mad, Bad and Dangerous by Sir Ranulph Fiennes I thought it is about time that I read a novel.

So I bought the classic novel "Crime and Punishment" by Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky.  It was first published in 12 monthly installments in the literary journal "The Russian Messenger" in 1866 and later published in a single volume.

The story focuses on the mental anguish of an impoverished ex-student who plans to kill an unscrupulous pawn broker, to solve his financial misery and to rid the world of an evil worthless parasite.

So far, it is a griping story and the author is able to portray for the reader the torment and mental anguish felt by [the main characture,Raskolnikov], and relaying the smallest detail of his thoughts.

 Publishing in 12 installments was a great idea.  That way you get/have to digest a chapter at a time.  It´s been years since I read that book.  Do you have a reading strategy?....the book is divided into 6 parts, would you read a part a month?

I´ve started with Sofie´s World, but stopped so I can read it when I´m in Turkey (sooooon!)

It´s a good introduction on philosophy, and you´ll find Turkey in there too (as the birthplace of the first known philosophers).

 No, I shall probably finish it in a week.  I am already 1/3rd through in 3 days.

Best books for July 2009.

1-  “Crime and Punishment" –Two books- by  Fyodor Dostoyevsky – Russia. One of the best world classic novels.

2-  “Sofie´s World” ( Sofies Verden )  by Jostein Gaarder – Norway.

A good philosophy book.History of the world philosophy.

3-  “ Le deglement Du Monde” by Amin Maalof - Lebanon. A newest history and research book.

  4- “Kodin” by Panait Istrati – Romania .A very nice novel.

Zorro

by

Isabel Allende

It´s a good read, particularly if one is interested in that aspect of CA history.

Dante Alighieri, Divine Comedy-inferno (but in Dutch translation).

Haven´t made much progression yet due to the very long and comprehensive introduction from the translator, but so far very delighted to have finally started a book that has been on my list for a long time, and with upcoming trip to Italy seems about time I read it.

In the meantime for some ´lighter amusement´ I am also reading Jan Wolkers´ ´De perzik van onsterfelijkheid´ (the peach of immortality), a fine piece of Dutch literature.

Janet Evanovich "Finger Lickin Fifteen"  I love her books!

The Kite Runner

by

Khaled Hosseini

It´s been on my list of "must read" for a while.  It´s a very disturbing book, but also an interesting view into the relatively peaceful and idyllic prewar Afghanistan.

 I agree, Kite Runner is a beautifully written book.  A bit disturbing but a story you can´t stop reading.

If you like it, try "A Thousand Splendid Suns."  It was also a good read.

I agree too!     I read ´A Thousand Splendid Suns´ first and I think I actually preferred it.  I have also seen the film of ´The Kite Runner´ but like most films of really good books it was a little bit of a let-down.  I wonder if there are any plans for a film of ´Splendid Suns´?

My current read is ´Making Money´ - Terry Pratchett - I just love his books - they make me laugh out loud   (Somehow I don´t think I fit in with the ´intellectuals´ of TC!   )

 Yes, I didn´t read anything about it other than it was a good book and about Afghanistan....there was something about kites...what did I know?....so I was quite shocked as the events unfolded...not being in any way prepared for them..... There are a lot of Afghan refugees (in fact a lot of refugees in general) where I live, and I´ve made friends with some of them. 

Their stories are amazing.  The hopes and dreams, the nightmares they escaped. They there is the issue of their status and how it changes when they arrive here.  The once wealthy and respected become gas station attendants, clerks in bargain stores, or flea market dealers.  The Afghans seem to gravitate to the flea markets. I have been amazed at how quickly they learn the American wants in their flea market stalls.  Very rapidly they learn what is collectable and stock their stalls with just that.  They have quickly learned how to price things, and they are quite open to exchange of information.

I guess I´m sort of a flea market connoisseur, and I find the Afghan dealers intriguing. The way it was described in the book was pretty accurate. They usually have some sort of van, very well equipped with carpets and tea service inside. It really is reminiscent of the old caravans.

 You´re not alone.......TRUST ME.....I try not to read anything too intellectual.  I usually read to escape!  I have been known to read an occasional trashy romance novel...

 If you have read a book and then see the film, most often they are dissapointing.  Hmmmm...Splendid Suns....sounds like a must read.

I have to admit though, much of my reading depends of what I find of interest at garage sales.  Both my last two reads were garage sale finds.  I much prefer paying $1 than $15 or $20 for a good book, although I do break down and order hardbacks of ones I particularly want to read.

Terry Prachett was recently diagnosed with Alzheimers, did you know that?  He sounds like a very interesting man.  I really should read some of his works sometime.  I spent a whole winter one year reading Edgar Rice Burroughs...it was wonderful. 

"Alzheimer´s disease

In August 2007 Pratchett was misdiagnosed as having had a minor stroke in 2004 or 2005, which was believed to have damaged the right side of his brain. While his motor skills had been affected, the observed damage had not impaired his ability to write (or at least no one noticed the difference).On 11 December 2007 Pratchett posted online that he had been newly diagnosed with a very rare form of early-onset Alzheimer´s disease, which he said "lay behind this year´s phantom ´stroke´." He has a rare form of the disease called posterior cortical atrophy, in which areas at the back of the brain begin to shrink and shrivel. Pratchett appealed to people to "keep things cheerful", and proclaimed that "we are taking it fairly philosophically down here and possibly with a mild optimism."

I just tried watching this movie the other night.  It sadly lasted 10 minutes..I have a real problem watching a film I have to read, what they are saying.

Hooray-good for you! (and LIR)

Minaret by Leila Aboulela

wonderful read in which the author shows totally different face of Islam  from pictures and prejudices westerners have in mind.

She writes about filling emptiness with choices,finding identity in multicultural societies and about faith in life.A compulsory read for all who claim to know all about Muslims

 Sounds very interesting...I´ll have to read it myself...

Stiff

The curious life of human cadavers

by Mary Roach

It was certainly interesting.  I heard inverviews with the author numerous times, and thought it sounded interesting.  Still, it´s not something I probably would have bought, given the subject, but I found it during one of my garage sale adventures being sold for one dollar. How could I resist?

Anyone who is thinking about making a donation of their own cadaver would well benefit from reading this book.

for all dreamers-Eric Emmanuel Schmitt the dreamer from ostend-wonderful stories of those  and for those who are not afraid of dreams

1- "The Man Without Qualities" ,  " Niteliksiz Adam " by Robert Musil  ( 3 kitap )

Harikulade bir roman, 20.Yüzyýlýn ve modernizmin birkaç baþyapýtýndan biri, çok önemli bir baþucu kitabý...Kitap, roman sanatýný ortaya koymuþ. "Roman nasýl yazýlýr" diye soranlara güzel bir cevap.Bir roman severin okumasý gereken bir yapýt... 

2- "The Time Traveler´s Wife" ,  " Zaman Yolcusunun Karýsý "    by Adrey  Niffenegger

Romanda, zaman ötesi, metafizik yaþamda, ilginç ve hüzün verici bir aþk öyküsü anlatýlmaya çalýþýlmýþ.Bu roman sinemaya da uyarlanmýþ.

( Romanýn konusu ilginç ve iyi seçilmiþ; fakat akýcý ve rahat okunan bir yapýt deðil.)

3-"The Lost  Symbol" , " Son Sembol" , by Dan Brown

Din ve tarih içerikli Dan Brown romanlarýnýn sonuncusu.Brown´Ã½n en çok "Melekler ve Þeytanlar" romanýný beðenmiþtim.Din ve tarih içerikli roman okumayý sevenlere Brown´nýn bu son yapýtý  tavsiye edilebilir.

The Turkish postal system is getting better and better!  

The Hidden Messages in Water by Masaru Emoto

and Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

iknow 7 languages but i perfer reading books in english and arabic

ilike Sheakspeer and Charles Dekineinz

ilike arabic poems and historybooks

If you are reading Shakespeare and Charles Dickens - check out the spelling of their names!!  

(why is it non-native English speakers always seem to head for the books that are most difficult to understand?  What´s wrong with a nice modern novel where you would learn modern English? - but stay away from the likes of Irvine Welsh!!)

The most difficult book to understand for me was Joyce´s Ulysses. It physically hurt me to read it for my British literature course at the uni As for contemporary writers, I´m currently reading Picoult´s My Sister´s Keeper and I love it

 Lir don´t be mean..have you been attending tami´s courses lately???you know she knows 7!!!!languages

I admit - I am jealous

 all of Sheakspeer and Charles Dekineinz???I guess

 Shakespeare is completely overrated in my opinion!  He was a soap opera writer for the times (admittedly with some beautiful prose) but hardly deserved of the almost religious devotion that he has gained...

 What doth thou mean oh fair maiden?

As an english person you are supposed to know that How Shakespeare improved your language.  He is the best playwright ever and it is really not arguable. I cant imagine English Language and literature and Theatre without Shakespeare.  Friends, Romans please dont be so relentless

 No Shakespere, no one wearing silly donkeys head

Well actually it IS arguable!!!  

To be the best poet, or not to be, that is the question

Whether ´tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The terrible storylines and outrageous plots

Or to take arms against the de souza and differ

And by opposing end them, To die - to sleep

By my troth, de souza, I agree they are beautiful words, but let it never be forgotten that they were written to entertain like a gentle drop of soap opera

Many of legend painters were painting only not to starve but it doesnt make their work less important or less beautiful eh?   you have every right to think that Shakespeare is not the best playwright ever but dont ever voice what you think about him when you are with a English Linguist or an actor. By the way thank you for your beautiful words which i didnt understand at all

Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation and Control....By Pearce and Robinson

It´s a real page turner......Anyone want it when I am done with it? 

Ilike arabic poems like ALmoutanabi and Ahmed shawky ,Abu alqasim alshabi

Eric Emmanuel Schmitt-The dreamer of  Ostend..not only for females with its outlandish eroticism

Soren Kierkegaard -- Fear And Trembling

Digital Fortress by Dan Brown (been reading for a couple months...not much time for reading lately

1- "Cumhuriyet, Türk  Mucizesi",  by Turgut Özakman,  2009

2- "Diriliş, Çanakkale 1915"  by Turgut Özakman,  2008

3-" Şu  Çılgın Türkler",  by Turgut Özakman,  2007

Research Review of Books  on Turkish History :  Atatürk, Turkish War of Independence and the Republic of Chronology, true story of foundation of modern Turkish Republic.

The Great War for Civilization by Robert Fisk

" Victoria " by Knut Hamsun, 1899

I´ve just read ´The boy in the striped pajamas´ by John Boyne. Wonderful written book about one of the most horrible events in human history: The Holocaust. 

if i can recommend a read-have you ever read"the painted bird"by Jerzy Kosinski?if not ..rush to the library..

 The Painted Bird is wonderful. I like Kosinski and his approach to the dark side of humanity.

I read these books recently:

1)Giosaphat Barbaro - Anadolu ve İran´a Seyahat

2)Micheal Löwy - Kafka Boyun Eğmeyen Hayalperest

3)Faruk Duman - Piri

4) Henry James - Bly´ın Gizemi (The Turn of The Screw)

5)Faruk Duman - Av Dönüşleri

6)Antonio Lopez Campillo - Hızlandırılmış Ateizm Dersleri

7)Ahmet Cemal - Giderayak

Blindman´s bluff by Faye Kellerman

Blindman´s bluff by Faye Kellerman

Ahmet Mithat Efendi / Çingene (The Gipsy)

Shutter Island....Dennis Lehane.  A bit scary but a fabulous psychological thriller! 

The Bridge: A Journey Between Orient and Occident by Geert Mak
...
In 2006, Geert Mak spent weeks on the Galata bridge, one of Istanbul’s busiest, getting to know the pavement merchants: the tea vendor, the book salesman, the peddler of orthopedic soles and the boys who trade in illegal cigarettes.  Most of them are from villages in Turkey’s far east and are desperately poor, barely able to their keep their heads above water; they live from one day, one hour, to the next. And they all have their own worries, their strategies for survival, their hopes, their own stories. The result is ‘a travelogue covering 490 metres’, in the author’s words.

Geert Mak is a journalist and historian, and one of The Netherlands’ bestselling writers;..

http://www.rbooks.co.uk/product.aspx?id=1846551382

---

A short / sweet/ charming book... Not in depth as far as the history is concerned.. But an excellent book for people who want to know a bit about Istanbul and its history..

The Poles that knew Jerzy were very upset that he protrayed Poles that way in his novel and Poles only ever treated him nicely. Yes, it is fictional work and he as a writer can write what he wants, it´s not based on factual events for the most part I have heard. I have not read it but plan to. I can give a proper evaluation then.