Hello People.

Today i was very happy becouse i found a turkish book in my language!! I found: Orhan Pamuk, Benim Adim Kirmizi.
I come internet to read about Orhan,but i'm surprised becouse i read that is in judgment by "insulting to the nation"... then.. is not recommendable to read his books? Someone can explain me this? What is your opinion?

Thank you in advance.

Mary T.

Why don't you google a bit? Here is some info on Orhan Pamuk from Wikipedia.

is this book online anywhere?? i was hoping to read it myself...

They have Orhan Pamuk in Dutch and Turkish in our library, I suppose it should be the same in England, especially regarding that you live near London

If i were you I'd check it out

I recommend 'Yeni Hayat' (The new life) and 'Kara kitap' (The black book). Also 'Beyaz Kale' (the white castle) is intriguing to read, as it has a very surprising end.
Though comments on him are always negative, I think he is a very good writer. I don't care much about his freaky personality, as long as his works are good

I'm currently reading books from Yaşar Kemal, he is definitely worth reading, probably even more than Orhan Pamuk, in my opinion! (Yaşar Kemal is not his real name though, i forgot the real one, but this is a pseudonyme for his works).

If you want to read more about Pamuk and his works, as well as about other famous Turkish people, you can find it here:

http://www.turkeyforyou.com/travel_turkey_orhan_pamuk

I bought "Istanbul", his latest book I think.
Anyone read it yet?

Hello every body!

Thank you for your posts.
I will read the webpages and later i will give my comments.

Please, Can you tell me other turkish authors??
I hope found other books here in my city!!

Mary T.

I liked his books. One day, in the early 1990's when I was at the uni I picked one of his books, "Beyaz Kale". I couldn't stop reading that book. I didn't sleep that night. I finished the book until the morning, had breakfast, waited for the shops to open and then went straigt to a book shop. I came back home with a peaceful smile on my face his next book "Kara Kitap" in my hands.

Now, I feel a huge dissapointment. I don't feel like I can ever enjoy reading his books again no matter how good they are. Pamuk was wrong and was unethical by talking rubbish about his homeland. Even Yaşar Kemal criticized (*) him for his hateful behavior. Of course you might like him. It's your choice. I'm done with Orhan Pamuk.

There are many good authors in contemporary Turkish literature. I especially like Oğuz Atay in his books "Tehlikeli Oyunlar" and "Tutunamayanlar".

* Yaşar Kemal is a famous novelist and intellectual in Turkia. He is well know with his masterpiece "İnce Mehmet". He has been charged and jailed many times because of his political comments especially when criticizing our government because of human rights issues and ethnic minorities. Yaşar Kemal said he would never comment agains his homeland in a way like Pamuk did. He used the word "düşmanca" (like an enemy).

It's not ok to be hateful, but being not critical is just as unhealthy. If there's no criticism of the country or of the government from it's people that means that some real manipulation and suppression is happening.

I totally agree with Catwoman. Its neither helpful or progressive not to criticise. How else can things change. I am sorry to see that Erdinc liked his books until he found out about the politics of the man. Surely the point about great literature is that people like to read the work.

Personally, I now want to read him, just to see what all the fuss is about.

Sorry, my english is not perfect and my mind is not so great. When I said “talking and writting bad about its homecountry” I didn’t mean criticizing its government or negative appearances, but writing insulting, unethical and hateful comments. Anyway, I always prefered people who, being abroad, use this opportunity to help, support and promote their homeland, although those who criticize are many more.
As I said, it is my personal opinion, and it has to do more with national-pride feeling. You can agree or disagree, it is your right.

Hello again!

I think some times: the truth not freckle but disturbs.
Each country have his black history, my country in example, in 2/oct/1968 the president kill a lot of students in "Tlatelolco" place, all the newspaper was burned and tv closed, nobody haved permision to talk about these fatal day. 30years later the files was opened and now we are discovering the very sad truth: the governement kill innocent people.

I don't know sufficient about Turkiye history. But some times: "The truth not freckle but disturbs." Now i need read about Turkiye history to made my final comment...

Mary T.

Günaidın!!!
I love Orhan Pamuk's books, "Istanbul" , the last one, is fabulus!
I have also red the WHITE CASTLE, THE NEW LIFE, MY NAME IS RED and the BLACK BOOK.
If I remember well, the official site of his, is www.orhanpamuk.com
I also have to suggest AZIZ NESIN, he is my favorite Turkish writer.
I suggest the "Böyle Gelmis, Böyle Gitmez", you will love it!