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A review by thegulagula
Snow by Orhan Pamuk
4.0
I'm not a poet nor can I write a poem. Hence, it was interesting to read about how a poet like Ka wrote his poems. How his inspiration came at unexpected times, during his commute, while he was walking, while he was talking.
Orhan Pamuk is only the second Turkish author that I've ever read after Elif Shafak. Honestly, I do not know much about Turkey. The language, the alphabet, the culture are all alien to me. I feel like if only I could learn more about the history and culture, I could appreciate the books by these Turkish authors more.
Reading Snow, I have the idea that Turkey is either one of two things. You are either a European or a Turkish. A Western or an Islam. An atheist or a God-believer (practicing or not is never the point).
You may not agree with all his thoughts but it is interesting to read about his thoughts on Islam and the Turkish. Overall I enjoyed reading his writings and the political situation in Kars, more than when he was touching about Ka's love story.
"I'm proud of the part of me that is not European. I'm proud of the things in me that the European find childish, cruel and primitive. If the Europeans are beautiful, I want to be ugly; if they are intelligent, I prefer to be stupid; if they're modern, let me stay pure."
P/S: Even after finishing the book, I still cannot comprehend why the girls in Kars committed suicide.
Orhan Pamuk is only the second Turkish author that I've ever read after Elif Shafak. Honestly, I do not know much about Turkey. The language, the alphabet, the culture are all alien to me. I feel like if only I could learn more about the history and culture, I could appreciate the books by these Turkish authors more.
Reading Snow, I have the idea that Turkey is either one of two things. You are either a European or a Turkish. A Western or an Islam. An atheist or a God-believer (practicing or not is never the point).
You may not agree with all his thoughts but it is interesting to read about his thoughts on Islam and the Turkish. Overall I enjoyed reading his writings and the political situation in Kars, more than when he was touching about Ka's love story.
"I'm proud of the part of me that is not European. I'm proud of the things in me that the European find childish, cruel and primitive. If the Europeans are beautiful, I want to be ugly; if they are intelligent, I prefer to be stupid; if they're modern, let me stay pure."
P/S: Even after finishing the book, I still cannot comprehend why the girls in Kars committed suicide.