Job Discussion Forums

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

i don't think that's true, 31. There are lots of bookshops with lots of people in them. The publishing industry is strong. I see people reading on the metro, and not only Fanatik. I think the bigger problem is that people don't read to their children enough, and I am pleased to see the "7 is too late" campaign going on.

Golightly · Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2005 10:17 am Post subject:

'A fez of the heart' is by Jeremy Seal. Can't say it's one of my favourites. Paul Theroux's 'The Great Railway Bazaar' opens in Turkey and is quite good. Halil Inalcik's 'The Ottoman Empire' is bursting with info, but on the dry side: I can't say it's a great read. 'Constantinople: City of the World's Desire' is good, as is John Julius Norwich's mammoth account of the Byzantine city.
Personally, I love Pamuk's books, even though he's slowly starting to resemble Pierre Loti's lachrymose tales, and Yasar Kemal is pretty good too.

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

[quote="molly farquharson"]i don't think that's true, 31. There are lots of bookshops with lots of people in them.

No there aren`t. When you consider that Ist has a population twice the size of London yet there are few really good bookshops.

The publishing industry is strong.

Really. I though it was downtrodden.

I see people reading on the metro, and not only Fanatik. So?
When I read a book on the metro or on a bus I find people trying to read along with me or trying to see what could be so interesting.

I think the bigger problem is that people don't read to their children enough, and I am pleased to see the "7 is too late" campaign going on. Also Turkey doesn`t really have a network of public lending libraries. Those dreary school textbooks and the memorisation in schools must put kids of reading for life. No booktokens or buying books as Christmas and birthday gifts. No book clubs or storytelling on kids TV.

the pusherman · Joined: 27 Oct 2004 Posts: 31 Location: istanbul

have to agree with 31 about the reading thing- you really don't see many people reading anything other than textbooks except for non-Turks.

Golightly - is your name an allusion to 'Round the Horne'? Just wondering. I think Byzantine would agree with me that Norwich is better than simply 'good', but of course it's just a matter of taste. He combines erudition and wit marvellously well, though, in my opinion.

Golightly · Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

Pusherman - no, my name's not an allusion to 'Round the Horne', but rather a play on the etymology of my real name. I'm a bona omo, if that's correct Polari Laughing

And yes, Norwich is better than merely good!

corall · Joined: 23 Apr 2004 Posts: 270 Location: istanbul, turkey

must also agree with 31 on that comment - turks are not a book reading culture. "my name is red" by orhan pamuk only sold a few million copies in it's first week but that was supposedly huge for turk because they are not that into books - rather i see a ton of turks reading newspapers...

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

I guess I am around more educated Turks. At least they read newspapers. When I was in Japan a lot of young people especially only read manga, those books of comics. Fantasy or reality?

31 · Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 1797

[quote="molly farquharson"]especialloy

What special alloy?

molly farquharson · Joined: 16 Jun 2004 Posts: 839 Location: istanbul

heavy metal

preston · Joined: 08 Dec 2004 Posts: 107

Manga comics are great

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Although a bit dated Julian Pettifer's 'The Turkish Labyrinth' is an interesting read. Also, I can't remember the name or author at the moment. But the author traced Marco Polo's travels in Turkey. I'll find out. My flatmates mother has ''tidied' and I can't see it.( Why can I only ever find things on the book shelves when they are messy)