These days you will find me on my terrace soaking in the last rays of sunshine before the grey of Mersin’s winter takes over. I will no doubt have a cup of çay (sorry guys it’s not particularly Türk – white with two sugar) and, depending on the time of day, perhaps a biscuit (or two) to tide me over until akşam yemeği (dinner). Basking in the sunshine is also the perfect time for me to catch up on my reading.
As a blogger I am always on the hunt for fellow bloggers and writers that live in Türkiye, telling their own anecdotes of life, love and the numerous catastrophes that befall them living in this crazy country. One of my favourite’s is fellow Aussie, Lisa Morrow, with her blog insideoutinIstanbul. Her blog is filled with tales and photographs of her life living in one of the most incredible cities on earth – İstanbul – so when I received a copy of her most recent book, Waiting for the Tulips to Bloom, I knew that I needed to find a comfy spot in the sun where I would no doubt be entrenched until I had finished the very last line.
Lisa’s descriptive style captures the sights, sounds and even the smells (remind me to never catch the no. 2 bus with her) of modern day İstanbul, giving me, the reader, not only a personal tour of her favourite haunts but drawing me in with little known stories of what is, without doubt, one of the most amazing cities in the world. Her anecdotes of language barriers and Government bureaucracy or even her partner’s difficulties with something as simple as his name (Who?) was something that any expat living in İstanbul (or any other city for that matter) will recognise.
To quote the wonderful Molly Meldrum (I am now picturing anyone who is not Australian googling “Molly Meldrum” right now), “Do yourselves a favour”. With the Christmas season fast approaching this will make an excellent stocking stuffer, in fact, I can think of one particular friend back in Sydney will be receiving it in the mail very soon.
Does anyone else have any recommendations for good Türk inspired reading? With winter fast approaching it is time for me to hibernate until spring so any suggestions to help pass the time while in my self imposed exile will be greatly appreciated.
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janeyinmersin 
“A Strangeness in my Mind” by Orhan Pamuk. Not written by Aussie expat but heard the interview with author on ABC radio. Sounds good.
I love your blog. I was in Instanbul Oct . last year. Loved it.
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I did red My Name is Red a couple of years back. That was pretty good. I should see if I can get this one as well. Ty
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My absolutely favourite Turkish authors are Oguz Atay (his bestseller Tutunamayanlar) and Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar (his bestseller Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü). Both are a bit Kafkaesque and surrealist.
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I haven’t done much reading over the past year or so, but I have just purchased David Baldacci’s Memory Man which has got me hooked. I also borrowed one from the laundry room called High Tide by Veronica Henry. Having not read anything of hers before, I gave it a go and it was a sweet little read, nothing too complicated and nice to read in bed before turning off the light.
Lee Child has added two more Reacher books to his repertoire, and I can’t be bothered!
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You are really holding a grudge against poor old Jack Reacher aren’t you? Tom really didnt cut it for you did he lol!
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To be honest, I’m not sure! I only saw a trailer for the film and nearly died laughing (One Shot was actually a good read), but I did pick up one of the new ones, read a few pages and wasn’t moved at all. The last one I read didn’t feel right, as if it was written by a ghost writer. Serves me right I suppose for getting an image in my head that I can’t shift. Ho hum.
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Orhan writes with that infuriating Turkish rambling style that takes so long to draw out the essence he is trying to reveal. Lisa Morrow gets right to it, so that your senses are instantly awash rather than painstakingly mollycoddled.
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True Who? (hehe). Lisa draws you right into the scene. I was picturing myself wandering through the alleys right alongside as she was searching for a new bootmaker!
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Here are a few older memoirs not to be missed: A Portrait of a Turkish Family by Irfan Orga is lovely. Living Under the Shadows of Two Cultures by Hugette Eyüboğlu (a Canadian expat) and Forty Camel Girl by E. Grace Beyler were also worth reading.
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I was going recommend İrfan Orga’s book, too.
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