Scan barcode
A review by bluepigeon
Anatolian Days and Nights: A Love Affair with Turkey, Land of Dervishes, Goddesses, and Saints by Joy Stocke, Angie Brenner
4.0
Thanks Goodreads First Reads giveaways for a copy of this book.
When I picked up this book, I was worried that it was going to be either the unrealistic, romanticized view of Turkey by foreign women or a comparison piece, where Turkey is compared to the East and West relentlessly. Instead, Stocke and Brenner tell a frank, entertaining, and informative story of their many visits and their developing relationship with the country, its culture, and its people. This is not to say that they are unbiased, because from the very beginning it is clear to them and to the reader that they really like Turkey. They seem to be very open minded, have a high tolerance for hairy, macho Turkish men, and a knack for meeting the right people at the right time. But most of their adventures are experiences foreigners can and do have in Turkey, a country full of people who love to talk, feed, entertain, and host. The book and their travels captures a part of the immense cultural and historical legacy of Anatolia, the place where there are more ruins per kilometer square than anywhere else in Europe.
As a child, I lived in Asia and went to school in Europe, crossing the bridge twice a day. And most Turks experience this all their lives, literally and metaphorically. Interestingly, the authors experience this in their own way, wishing to be able to live in America and in Turkey, for them in the West and in the East, or at least this part of the East that is much friendlier than many other parts to independent, free women.
As a Turk who grew up with official history, I never learned much about the Christians who live in Turkey or the god of moon, Sin, or the goddess with the fishtail. I was also reminded of some interesting things about Turkey, like that the first Christian church is in Antakya, where we used to go for vacation when I was a baby.
Turkey is an unconventional beauty, waiting for someone to recognize just how special, strange, and unexpected it really is. Stocke and Brenner have done just that in their book.
When I picked up this book, I was worried that it was going to be either the unrealistic, romanticized view of Turkey by foreign women or a comparison piece, where Turkey is compared to the East and West relentlessly. Instead, Stocke and Brenner tell a frank, entertaining, and informative story of their many visits and their developing relationship with the country, its culture, and its people. This is not to say that they are unbiased, because from the very beginning it is clear to them and to the reader that they really like Turkey. They seem to be very open minded, have a high tolerance for hairy, macho Turkish men, and a knack for meeting the right people at the right time. But most of their adventures are experiences foreigners can and do have in Turkey, a country full of people who love to talk, feed, entertain, and host. The book and their travels captures a part of the immense cultural and historical legacy of Anatolia, the place where there are more ruins per kilometer square than anywhere else in Europe.
As a child, I lived in Asia and went to school in Europe, crossing the bridge twice a day. And most Turks experience this all their lives, literally and metaphorically. Interestingly, the authors experience this in their own way, wishing to be able to live in America and in Turkey, for them in the West and in the East, or at least this part of the East that is much friendlier than many other parts to independent, free women.
As a Turk who grew up with official history, I never learned much about the Christians who live in Turkey or the god of moon, Sin, or the goddess with the fishtail. I was also reminded of some interesting things about Turkey, like that the first Christian church is in Antakya, where we used to go for vacation when I was a baby.
Turkey is an unconventional beauty, waiting for someone to recognize just how special, strange, and unexpected it really is. Stocke and Brenner have done just that in their book.