Orhan Pamuk Won!! He won!!!
Wow…I am actually thrilled. Pamuk has been on the top of my list of favourite authors since I read Snow some two years back. He is a fabulous writer and the Prize is completely deserved.
When the Economics Prize was announced a couple of days back I remember thinking that the Literature Prize would be announced in a couple of days and “I hope Pamuk wins it.” (Apparently, the committee was in a deadlock over him and Pinter last year.)
I have raved constantly about Pamuk to all and sundry and on this blog numerous times. (His official site is linked on my sidebar, do have a look). Since I always gift my friend’s books, for the last one year they have all received a Pamuk from me, without fail. There is a beauty, sadness and sense of poetry to his writing that is simply mesmerising.
The only Pamuk book (available in translation) that I have yet to read is The Black Book which is staring at me, lying on my desk as I write this. I have been planning to get down to reading it for ages, but coursework and midterms have made me postpone picking it up. Pamuk is not to be read in a distracted state of mind. He demands and deserves complete attention.
Not surprisingly the prize has received mixed reactions in Turkey. I find it strange that I have yet to meet a Turkish student (and I do know many) who has anything nice to say about Pamuk. Most of them haven’t read his books but are put off by his statements on the Armenian genocide. I find that terribly sad and really hope that I have had a biased sample.
In an interview of his I read a while back, Pamuk said that he had his next ten books all laid out in his mind. Well, Mr. Pamuk, please do write them fast. I for one can’t wait to read them.
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4 comments:
My first Pamuk is sitting on my desk waiting to be read right now. It's Istanbul, but I'm not sure if it's an very good choice since I have not read anything by his yet, but I'll tell you how it goes. Something tells me I'm going to love it.
PS: My best friend who gifted this book to me is actually Turkish. She doesnt like Pamuk much either, and only bought it for me because I kept begging her to let me read him :)
I liked Istanbul, but its not my favourite Pamuk.
I would actually reccomend you start with My Name Is Red. I think thats his most accesiblle work and its quite brilliant. (I am however partial to Snow)
Let me know how you liked Istanbul though.
And, ya, see what I said about Turks not really liking him?
You know how sometimes you never hear of someone at all, and then suddenly you hear his name every week and always in a different context?
That's Pamuk for me. During the months leading up to the award, I have heard his name at least a dozen times but have never read anything of his.
What's a good book to start with?
...ok, redundant question. I just saw your previous comment.
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