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janateresiinka's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, War, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, and Violence
ok_karla's review
2.0
I still don't get why this book was titled "Bliss". I must have missed something.
This book made me sad, but offered a very interesting view of rural Turkish life.
This book made me sad, but offered a very interesting view of rural Turkish life.
xiindiie's review
5.0
I've first read the book many years ago - translated into mandarin, I was mesmerised by the country where the east and the west coincides. Many years later, as I recalled about how fascinated I was for the book, I seek out to buy an english copy of it. It does not disappoint. The story of Meryem sort of reminded me of Khaled Hosseini's A Thousand Splendid Sun as rape is a commonly explored topic in some islamic countries. I enjoy the book a lot as it offers a lot of perspectives, from the victim, Meryem, an ex-soldier, Cemal and a nihilistic professor Irfan. The book explores on how different cultures exist within the same country and how their ideals clash. It is indeed a fascinating read, wrapped in 275 pages.
bookerage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Slow paced, but compelling story about Meryem, a girl condemned to her own "honor killing" by her cousin Cemal. On their long journey to Istanbul they eventually meet Irfan, who has his own troubles. A friendship develops between these very different characters.
amiraandthecats's review against another edition
3.0
Starts like a Marquez book and ends like a Elif Shafak one... Disappointed.
msgtdameron's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
This is really a story about Post Traumatic Stress (PTS) (I have PTS and hate the word "disorder" I don't have a disorder, That's why I dropped the D.) First Meherium, Turkish for Mary. One, her mother died in childbirth, her aunt, moms sister, feels obligated to look after Mary, but Auntie hates mary and takes every chance to tell her, she is constantly beat, and finally at 15 her Uncle rapes her and the local boys drag her through the village. Next Celb Mary's cousin and the son of her rapist. He is a Commando in the Turkish forces fighting the PPK, Kurdish Communists, in eastern Anatolian. Two years living at the sharp end of a thousand year old fight that continues to this day. Ambushes, counter ambushes, patrols, barracks down time, bitter cold and blazing heat with a rainy season that lasts from Nov through late December so it's not a warm gentle rain, it's liquid ice at around .5 C. I spent 21 months in Central Turkey during my 23 years in the Air Force so I can relate. He has PTS. He comes home after discharge gets a lot of accolades from his family and the village, then dad tells him to take his cousin to Istanbul and kill her as she has dishonored the family. Yup, same guy who raped her now wants his son to kill the child he raped. The third member of our cast is Isfahar, an Istanbul University professor who has left the university, his wife, his friends, cleared out his personal bank account, rents a forty foot sail boat and leaves for the Aegean. His life is not filled with violence, but he is just a Dilbert in academic cubical land. Isfahar just wants out of his life, but can't bring himself to suicide or go out in style. He daydreams about going in style but doesn't have the courage. The real story is how each person deals with his and her own demons. I really enjoyed this work and related to the PTS issues that each character has.
lostyouth's review
4.0
The story begins in a village in Eastern Anatolia where ignorant customs and beliefs plague the population. A fifteen year old raped girl, Meryem, is believed to have committed a major 'sin' and stained the honor of the family whereas her rapist uncle remains pious as ever. According to the tradition, Meryem must commit suicide to restore the honor of family. But she defies the custom and wants to live.
Her uncle, who happens to be a sheikh in the village, is one of those men who preach virtues and morals to others and conceal their own sins and trashiness under the garb of piety and religiosity. Women are considered evil and lowly beings who must spend their entire lives behind the doors.
The ignorance and stupidity of the people is further aggravated by remaining secluded and clueless about the world outside the village.
Her twenty year old cousin, Cemal (i.e Jemal) is a commando in Turkish army fighting against Kurdish guerillas on the mountains. On his return to village after being discharged from the army service, he is commanded by his father to take Meryem to Istanbul and and murder her there.
Cemal learns violence instead of rationality and is deeply influenced by his father's preaching.
On the other hand, we follow the story of a 44 year old professor, Irfan, going through existential crisis after living a pretentious and pompous life among elite-class. He is described as being 'Don Quixote at night' and 'Sancho Panza in the morning'. Instead of becoming a creative thinker, irfan became a pretentious dandy who couldn't produce anything worthwhile - since he judged himself to be devoid of noteworthy thoughts or feelings.
The paths of these three characters collide and their lives change significantly.
Irfan, Meryem and Cemal - in Turkish film, Mutluluk (Bliss)
The novel is slow paced but a compelling read. The premise sounds much too grim but the book isn't always so. The character development in the story is excellent and each character serves a means to observe various point of views. There are various themes in the novel especially patriarchy and misogyny with underlying political and social commentary. The disparity existing among people of different class, culture and background is brought to light. A country torn into Eastern tradition and Western modernity. . There's religion, nihilism, secularism and people having different morals, traditions and customs reflecting their outlook on life.
The novel is about broadening one's horizon about world and people inhabiting it. Learning to shed the shell of prejudices and cherished beliefs. So do these characters, to some extent at least.
It's a story of courage amidst adversity with a ray of triumph and hope that will surely make you think at several points.
---
Archive.org link to borrow the book:
https://archive.org/details/bliss0000liva
Her uncle, who happens to be a sheikh in the village, is one of those men who preach virtues and morals to others and conceal their own sins and trashiness under the garb of piety and religiosity. Women are considered evil and lowly beings who must spend their entire lives behind the doors.
The ignorance and stupidity of the people is further aggravated by remaining secluded and clueless about the world outside the village.
Her twenty year old cousin, Cemal (i.e Jemal) is a commando in Turkish army fighting against Kurdish guerillas on the mountains. On his return to village after being discharged from the army service, he is commanded by his father to take Meryem to Istanbul and and murder her there.
Cemal learns violence instead of rationality and is deeply influenced by his father's preaching.
On the other hand, we follow the story of a 44 year old professor, Irfan, going through existential crisis after living a pretentious and pompous life among elite-class. He is described as being 'Don Quixote at night' and 'Sancho Panza in the morning'. Instead of becoming a creative thinker, irfan became a pretentious dandy who couldn't produce anything worthwhile - since he judged himself to be devoid of noteworthy thoughts or feelings.
The paths of these three characters collide and their lives change significantly.
Irfan, Meryem and Cemal - in Turkish film, Mutluluk (Bliss)
The novel is slow paced but a compelling read. The premise sounds much too grim but the book isn't always so. The character development in the story is excellent and each character serves a means to observe various point of views. There are various themes in the novel especially patriarchy and misogyny with underlying political and social commentary. The disparity existing among people of different class, culture and background is brought to light. A country torn into Eastern tradition and Western modernity. . There's religion, nihilism, secularism and people having different morals, traditions and customs reflecting their outlook on life.
The novel is about broadening one's horizon about world and people inhabiting it. Learning to shed the shell of prejudices and cherished beliefs. So do these characters, to some extent at least.
It's a story of courage amidst adversity with a ray of triumph and hope that will surely make you think at several points.
---
Archive.org link to borrow the book:
https://archive.org/details/bliss0000liva
christythelibrarian's review against another edition
1.0
Couldn't finish this book. I don't know if was the translation or what, but there was a lot of "telling" and not enough "showing." It was also a rather abrupt style - both in transitions and in plot development.