Bliss - Tapa blanda

I loved this book so much that I sent a fan letter to the publisher, and demanded to be introduced to the author when I went to Istanbul. "Bliss" is fresh, original, and warm-hearted, the work of a cosmopolitan insider and multi-talented artist.--Louis de Bernieres, author of Corelli's Mandolin Lyrical, poetic, and magical . . .Livaneli is an extraordinary writer and a master of language . . .I like the way he depicts the real and unknown life of the simple people who live deep in the East with their own age-old codes of life You will read this book in one breath, without a pause.--Mikis Theodorakis, composer for Zorba the Greek" Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene.--Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of Snow The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots.--President Jacques Chirac of France, in a letter to the author A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women but also a society in conflict.--Barbara Goldsmith, Author and Historian Livaneli's novel paints a picture of contemporary Turkey and its archaic culture and shows how torn this country and its people are . . . Livaneli reveals how much collective obedience, respect, and honor mold people and keep them from their happiness. This novel is smart, honest . . . It allows us to understand Turkey and its people a little better and sympathize with them.--Necla Kelek, German-Turkish sociologist and author of the bestsellers The Foreign Bride and The Lost Sons "I loved this book so much that I sent a fan letter to the publisher, and demanded to be introduced to the author when I went to Istanbul. Bliss is fresh, original, and warm-hearted, the work of a cosmopolitan insider and multi-talented artist." --Louis de Bernieres, author of Corelli's Mandolin "Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene." --Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of Snow "The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots." --President Jacques Chirac of France, in a letter to the author "A gripping contemporary story that gets behind stereotypes of exotic Islam to reveal the diversity in individual people and the secrets and lies, cruelty and love, in family, friendship, and public life. This will make a terrific bookclub selection when it reaches paperback." --Booklist "Eye-opening and deeply moving--essential for anyone looking for decency in the world today." --Kirkus Reviews (starred) "A lyrical novel." --The Wall Street Journal "With lush scenes of Turkish life and nuanced depictions of the [characters'] inner lives. . . .a convergence of lost, likable souls." --Entertainment Weekly "Livaneli offers readers a fascinating look at the diversity of Turkey today in his American debut." --Library Journal "A compelling premise, set in a part of the world that many American readers are curious about. . . hard to put down" --The Cleveland Plain Dealer "A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women but also a society in conflict." --Barbara Goldsmith, Author and Historian "Livaneli's novel paints a picture of contemporary Turkey and its archaic culture and shows how torn this country and its people are . . . Livaneli reveals how much collective obedience, respect, and honor mold people and keep them from their happiness. This novel is smart, honest . . . It allows us to understand Turkey and its people a little better and sympathize with them." --Necla Kelek, German-Turkish sociologist and author of the bestsellers The Foreign Bride and The Lost Sons "Lyrical, poetic, and magical . . .Livaneli is an extraordinary writer and a master of language . . .I like the way he depicts the real and unknown life of the simple people who live deep in the East with their own age-old codes of life...You will read this book in one breath, without a pause." --Mikis Theodorakis, composer for Zorba the Greek "Teens will be drawn to the plight of a girl who has been raped and is then treated as the perpetrator of the crime. Livaneli shows village life and modern city life as two separate realities that coexist in Turkey today. Students interested in human rights and global studies will also appreciate this novel." --School Library Journal I loved this book so much that I sent a fan letter to the publisher, and demanded to be introduced to the author when I went to Istanbul. "Bliss" is fresh, original, and warm-hearted, the work of a cosmopolitan insider and multi-talented artist. Louis de Bernieres, author of Corelli's Mandolin Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene. Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of Snow The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots. President Jacques Chirac of France, in a letter to the author A gripping contemporary story that gets behind stereotypes of exotic Islam to reveal the diversity in individual people and the secrets and lies, cruelty and love, in family, friendship, and public life. This will make a terrific bookclub selection when it reaches paperback. "Booklist" Eye-opening and deeply moving essential for anyone looking for decency in the world today. "Kirkus Reviews (starred)" " " A lyrical novel. "The Wall Street Journal" With lush scenes of Turkish life and nuanced depictions of the [characters'] inner lives. . . .a convergence of lost, likable souls. "Entertainment Weekly" Livaneli offers readers a fascinating look at the diversity of Turkey today in his American debut. "Library Journal" A compelling premise, set in a part of the world that many American readers are curious about. . . hard to put down "The Cleveland Plain Dealer" A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women but also a society in conflict. Barbara Goldsmith, Author and Historian Livaneli's novel paints a picture of contemporary Turkey and its archaic culture and shows how torn this country and its people are . . . Livaneli reveals how much collective obedience, respect, and honor mold people and keep them from their happiness. This novel is smart, honest . . . It allows us to understand Turkey and its people a little better and sympathize with them. Necla Kelek, German-Turkish sociologist and author of the bestsellers The Foreign Bride and The Lost Sons Lyrical, poetic, and magical . . .Livaneli is an extraordinary writer and a master of language . . .I like the way he depicts the real and unknown life of the simple people who live deep in the East with their own age-old codes of life You will read this book in one breath, without a pause. Mikis Theodorakis, composer for Zorba the Greek Teens will be drawn to the plight of a girl who has been raped and is then treated as the perpetrator of the crime. Livaneli shows village life and modern city life as two separate realities that coexist in Turkey today. Students interested in human rights and global studies will also appreciate this novel. "School Library Journal"" "I loved this book so much that I sent a fan letter to the publisher, and demanded to be introduced to the author when I went to Istanbul. "Bliss" is fresh, original, and warm-hearted, the work of a cosmopolitan insider and multi-talented artist." --Louis de Bernieres, author of "Corelli's Mandolin" "Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene." --Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of "Snow" "The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots." --President Jacques Chirac of France, in a letter to the author "A gripping contemporary story that gets behind stereotypes of exotic Islam to reveal the diversity in individual people and the secrets and lies, cruelty and love, in family, friendship, and public life. This will make a terrific bookclub selection when it reaches paperback." --"Booklist" "Eye-opening and deeply moving--essential for anyone looking for decency in the world today." --"Kirkus Reviews (starred)" "A lyrical novel." --"The Wall Street Journal" "With lush scenes of Turkish life and nuanced depictions of the [characters'] inner lives. . . .a convergence of lost, likable souls." --"Entertainment Weekly" "Livaneli offers readers a fascinating look at the diversity of Turkey today in his American debut." --"Library Journal" " " "A compelling premise, set in a part of the world that many American readers are curious about. . . hard to put down" --"The Cleveland Plain Dealer" "A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women but also a society in conflict." --Barbara Goldsmith, Author and Historian "Livaneli's novel paints a picture of contemporary Turkey and its archaic culture and shows how torn this country and its people are . . . Livaneli reveals how much collective obedience, respect, and honor mold people and keep them from their happiness. This novel is smart, honest . . . It allows us to understand Turkey and its people a little better and sympathize with them." --Necla Kelek, German-Turkish sociologist and author of the bestsellers "The Foreign Bride" and "The Lost Sons " "Lyrical, poetic, and magical . . .Livaneli is an extraordinary writer and a master of language . . .I like the way he depicts the real and unknown life of the simple people who live deep in the East with their own age-old codes of life You will read this book in one breath, without a pause." --Mikis Theodorakis, composer for "Zorba the Greek" " " "Teens will be drawn to the plight of a girl who has been raped and is then treated as the perpetrator of the crime. Livaneli shows village life and modern city life as two separate realities that coexist in Turkey today. Students interested in human rights and global studies will also appreciate this novel." --"School Library Journal" " "A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women but also a society in conflict."-- Barbara Goldsmith, Author and Historian "Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene." --Orhan Pamuk, author of the national bestseller, "Snow" "The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots."--President Jacques Chirac of France in a letter to the author "Livaneli's novel paints a picture of contemporary Turkey and its archaic culture and shows how torn this country and its people are...Livaneli reveals the beauty and violence of this country, as well as how much collective obedience, respect and honor mold people and keep them from their happiness. This novel is smart, honest, and a singular occurrence in Turkish literature. It allows us to understand Turkey and its people a little better and sympathize with them."--Necla Kelek, German-Turkish sociologist and author of the bestsellers "The Foreign Brides" and "The Lost Sons" " " "Lyrical, poetic, and magical!.... Livaneli is an extraordinary writer and a master of language, who describes in this book an incredibly violent but at the same time magical, almost surreal world. I like the way he depicts the real and the unknown life of the simple people who live deep within the East with their ownage-old codes of life...they show their own 'truth' about life and death, their own views about right and wrong.... You will read this book in one breath, without a pause."--Mikis Theodorakis, composer of "Zorba the Greek"

Meryem, a fifteen-year-old girl, lives in a rural village on the shores of Lake Van in Eastern Turkey. Her simple life changes dramatically after her uncle, a sheikh in a dervish order, rapes her. She is considered an outcast for shaming her family. When she is locked in a shed and left alone for days, she comes to the painful realization that her family expects her to hang herself. When she refuses to do her duty, her cousin and childhood playmate Cemal is charged with carrying out the honour killing to "take her to Istanbul" as the village euphemism goes. By chance, their paths cross with Irfan, an older and sophisticated professor from Istanbul who has abandoned his elite existence. Together they embark on a journey that sets them free.