Bliss — Zülfü Livaneli

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 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 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