BUYERS Books Turkish Literature: Best Books

What-are-the-best-Turkish-literature-books to read

20/06/2022

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My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk was a very entertaining historical tale, opening a window into the life of miniaturists in 1591, being something of a murder mystery story as well. Pamuk would later receive the 2006 Nobel prize for literature. Pamuk’s other books are very good as well.

Strangely when I was in Turkey our tour guide said he preferred other authors, but maybe this book has the most appeal for non-Turks. Or maybe the book improved in translation! 😉

Reşat Nuri Güntekin – Acımak
Orhan Pamuk – Benim Adım Kırmızı
Sabahattin Ali – Kürk Mantolu Madonna (This one made me cry, and therefore and I don’t want to remember.)
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar – Saatleri Ayarlama Enstitüsü (In order to enjoy the story, you should know about history of the Republic of Turkey, between 1923–46).
Recaizade Mahmut Ekrem – Araba Sevdası (Again you should know about Ottoman history between 1840–1900. In fact, you also need to know about Divan literature).
Orhan Pamuk – Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları (This one is boring maybe, but I like it anyway. It will give you an idea about a tra
Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar, HUZUR
Orhan Pamuk, BENIM ADIM KIRMIZI
Orhan Pamuk, YENI HAYAT
Oguz Atay, TUTUNAMAYANLAR
Yasar Kemal, INCE MEMED
Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoglu, YABAN
Resat Nuri Guntekin, CALIKUSU
Kemal Tahir, DEVLET ANA
Kemal Tahir, YORGUN SAVASCI
Adalet Agaoglu, DUGUN GECESI
İçimizdeki Şeytan (The Devil Inside) by Sabahattin Ali
Kuyucaklı Yusuf (Yusuf of Kuyucak) by Sabahattin Ali
Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları (Cevdet Bey and Sons) by Orhan Pamuk
Kumral Ada, Mavi Tuna (I believe it’s been translated as Mediterranean Waltz) by Buket Uzuner

If you are interested in poetry, the modern poets who have left the most impression on current literature are Orhan Veli Kanık, Melih Cevdet Anday and Oktay Rıfat (all contemporaries, and considered to be the representatives of the “Garip” movement). I’d also look at the works of

Read books written by Orhan Pamuk, who won the Nobel Prize for Literature. His books are wonderfully written, with a unique style, fantastic attention to historical detail (especially on the Ottoman empire), and characters whose personal psychology, passions, inner turmoil, and beautiful soul he portrays like a true artist of the written word.

Here are some of Pamuk’s books I would recommend:

Istanbul: Memories and the City
The Museum of Innocence
Other Colors
The New Life
A Strangeness in My Mind (this one is the latest (as of 2015)

Please start with İçimizdeki Şeytan by Sabahattin Ali according to my taste about Turkish literature.

in academic Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, İnci Enginün will be helpful.

But Turkish literature has a huge chamber the period is also important.

I give you last period of it with these books. (at least academic part)

You can read any books of these writers/poets.

Turkish literature has roots of hundreds of years. Books from the Ottoman period or after that can be recommended. But I would like to recommed some books that I recently read from Turkish literature:

One of the most well known Turkish author is Orhan Pamuk. He won the Nobel Prize on 2006. I could recommend you some of his books.

1)Istanbul: Memories of a City

2)The Museum of Innocence

3) My name is red

Also we can recommend you the famous representative of the early Turkish Republic literature : Orhan Kemal. His literary works has socialist and realistic tone. The books I read from Orhan Kemal

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Kar (Snow) by Orhan Pamuk. Short and sweet. If it charms you, A Strangeness in my Mind, by Orhan Pamuk as well. The latter is a lesson on a huge slice of contemporary Turkey.

What are the best Turkish literature books I can read?

What is your favorite book from a Turkish author?