MANDALAY

Silent House by Orhan Pamuk
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Although this is only the second novel of Pamuk I am reading, I am surprised to find that it is a fairly easy read. His style is evident right from the start. The book grips you like no other....

I find that some additional reading on Turkish history helps. My initial thought though has always been that it should decide whether it considers itself Asian or Middle Eastern....or European as it strives to bring itself into modernity.

There are five narrators each exchanging thoughts, experiences, ideas, history, memories and politics as Turkey struggles for modernity.

1. Fatma

A 90 year old bedridden matriach living in a run down mansion in Cennethisar not far from Istanbul. She awaits the coming of her three grandchildren's annual summer visit whence they would then visit the graves of their grandfather and parents.

She was married at 15 to Dr Selahattin whose dabbling in politics cost him his future. They had to move out of Istanbul to the fishing village of Cennethisar and serve the poor fishermen, often not charging them. In his dream to westernise his people, he embarked on writing a 48-volume encyclopedia. In the meantime livelihood depended on whatever piece of jewellery he could make Fatma part with..... Alas, before the writings could be completed, the official national script had been changed to the western alphabet.....

2. Recep

He and his brother, Ismail are Selahattin's illegitimate sons...another reason for Fatma's bitterness towards her husband.

The mother's husband had joined the navy and never returned. Selahattin built a shack for her . One day when he was not home, Fatma went into the shack with her cane ....mother and her two boys were at the end of her cane. Resep grows into a dwarf and serves as a servant in the mansion. Ismail grows with a limp and sells lottery tickets.

3. Faruk

Eldest of three grandchildren of Fatma. Fat and an alcaholic like his father and grandfather. A history teacher and spends a lot of time researching at the archive. One wonders why his wife left him.

4. Metin

Faruk's high school brother whose dream is to go to the US. He persuades his grandmother to sell the mansion. Keeps the company of tbe high class.

I wonder why their sister , Nilgun is not a narrator. She has a communist leaning and I wonder if that might be the reason.....

5. Hasan

He is Ismail's son. Whilst Ismail is always instilling the need to study, Hasan keeps the company of nationalist vigilantes.

Secretly, he has feelings for Nilgun. Like Metin, they seem to be in love with girls of higher class........

I am ok with Finn's translation...... to the point.....


View all my reviews