The country known as Turkey is truly a strange and significant place. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it charted a sectarian course for its government. Over the past two decades, it has been moving ever closer to Islam. It is a land rich in resources and antiquities, yet also burdened by great poverty. Its people are more "Westernized" compared to most others in the region. Turkey has hinted at its desire for a much larger role on the world stage. It is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Association and has long been waiting for its EU membership to be approved. There is also the long-standing issue of taking responsibility for the mass-murder of Armenians during and after World War I.

I had a strong desire to gain a deeper understanding of Turkey's politics, culture, daily life, and so on. Who could be a better guide than Orhan Pamuk, Turkey's Nobel prize winner for literature? "Snow" is a truly fantastic (in the literal sense) political novel set in Kars, a city that once had a glorious past but now struggles in the present and faces an uncertain future. To add to the mystery, Pamuk names his journalist protagonist Ka. We are never entirely sure whether he arrives in the midst of a continuing blizzard (is it a metaphor?) because of a story about young girls and headscarves, or because of his interest in Ipek, a former lover, or perhaps because of the upcoming election. All the conflicting political and religious movements in the country converge and boil over in this city: socialism and communism, atheism, political secularism, Kurdish nationalism, and the most rapidly growing movement, Islamist fundamentalism. Ka comes into contact with all of them. The minister who has banned girls wearing headscarves from attending school is attacked and killed, drawing Ka further into the conflicts.

There is plenty of action in the story, as well as periods of reflection. However, it is as if everything is presented through a blizzard that obscures the reader's perceptions and makes it difficult to reach any firm conclusions. Who is considered a danger to the state? Who views Ka as an objective journalist and who sees him as a threat? How does the situation change when a putsch occurs during a performance at the National Theater? If Ka decides to attempt to flee, will Ipek go with him?

The reader is challenged on multiple levels. As Churchill said about another country in the region, "It is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma." And perhaps, this is precisely what Pamuk is trying to convey to us about his Turkey.

A Mystery.

A Social Case Study.

A Culture Clash.

A Literary Masterpiece.

Unreliable Narrators.

Misogyny.

Protest.

Political Campaigns.

Multiple Truths.

Diverse Realities.

Deeply Moving Characters.

Darkly Funny Storylines.

Religious Fundamentalism.

Arrogant Humanism.

Liberal Press Coverage.

Fake News.

National Identity Divergences.

This novel is an absolute enigma, a complex web of so many different and fascinating strands. It is a social case study that delves deep into the heart of society's issues, a culture clash that showcases the differences and conflicts between various traditions and beliefs. It is a literary masterpiece, crafted with such skill and precision that it leaves the reader in awe. The unreliable narrators add an extra layer of mystery and intrigue, making it difficult to distinguish between truth and lies. The misogyny and protest themes are powerful and thought-provoking, while the political campaigns and multiple truths add a touch of realism. The diverse realities and deeply moving characters bring the story to life, and the darkly funny storylines provide a much-needed break from the seriousness. The religious fundamentalism and arrogant humanism add another dimension to the novel, and the liberal press coverage and fake news themes are particularly relevant in today's world. The national identity divergences are also explored, highlighting the importance of understanding and accepting different cultures.

Ever since I first read this novel, just after Orhan Pamuk received the Nobel Prize, it has been one of my most cherished literary treasures. It is a book full of truth and lies, of foolishness and wisdom, of love and hate, of passion and indifference. It is a book full of LIFE! And as history moves on, it has only gained more power and relevance. The story of the Istanbul journalist who visits remote Kars to investigate young women's suicides becomes more real and poignant, and the questions raised shine in a bright new light. The power of this novel to speak truth to power and to enrage people is truly remarkable. It is a must-read for anyone who loves literature and wants to explore the complex and diverse world we live in. Recommended to the world!

An insipid hero in a desolate place covered by snow and facing political troubles, falling in love with someone he knows for sure he will never have a life with - this concept has the potential to be an interesting read.

However, "Snow" fails to deliver on this promise. I actually read the entire book, but I considered almost all the time I spent doing so as a waste.

What was this book awarded for? It surely couldn't have been for its prose. Ka, the protagonist, was someone I simply never cared about.

And while the setting of Kars provided a very interesting background, it was not enough to sustain this rather lackluster story.

The plot seemed to meander without a clear direction, and the characters remained one-dimensional.

In the end, "Snow" left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled.

I expected more from a book that had such an intriguing premise, but unfortunately, it failed to live up to my expectations.

Snow is a novel that initially gives the impression of becoming a new favorite. Pamuk's writing in the first chapter draws the reader into the world of Kars, and this atmospheric quality persists throughout. The novel could be seen as a masterclass in taking inspiration from Kafka without being overly obvious. The protagonist, an ignorant outsider, gets caught up in the tensions between the Kemalists and the Islamists, yet he has a significant role to play. It is a conversational political novel where theology and romance often take a backseat. The tale also has a metaliterary quality that becomes more prominent as the story progresses.

However, the plot didn't entirely meet the reader's expectations. The romance felt flimsy and underdeveloped, and the female characters were cardboard-ish. Some of the conversations also seemed unrealistic. Despite these flaws, the reader is glad to have read the novel. Pamuk's storytelling has a subverted yet postmodernist appeal, and the literary merit can hold the reader's interest even when the story falls short. To fully engage with the context, one needs to be aware of the political tensions in the Middle East. The exposition is brilliant, and the ending is not indifferent. Overall, the novel would have been more compelling if it had taken a non-fiction, journalistic approach.

\\n  Snow\\n by Orhan Pamuk is a remarkable piece of literary fiction that delves deep into some complex and thought-provoking themes. It presents a vivid exploration of political intrigue, philosophy, romance, secularism, religious fanaticism, East-West relations, radicalism, Western ideals, suicide, murder, and torture.

The story follows Ka, a Turkish poet who returns to Turkey from Germany after 12 years of political exile. He comes back for his mother's funeral but also hears that his girlfriend has divorced her husband and heads to Kars, their hometown. Ka arrives during a blizzard, and the roads and trains are closed. He tells people he is in town as a journalist to cover the municipal elections and the suicides of young women in Kars. What unfolds next is a series of events that are both eventful and introspective.

Unfortunately, Ka is not the most likable character. He seems rather immature for his age, which can be quite annoying. However, the real star of the novel is the city of Kars itself. Located in northeast Turkey, Kars has a rich and turbulent history due to its strategic location. It is a melting pot of different nationalities, cultures, and ethnicities. The author's world-building is truly fantastic, allowing readers to clearly picture the snowbound city.

The story line has great potential and does touch on some contemporary issues. However, at times, it feels more like a collection of vignettes rather than a cohesive novel. While the book relies more on telling than showing for a large part of it, readers still get glimpses of various emotions and themes such as poverty, hopelessness, anger, regrets, freedom of thought, the loss of innocence, and loneliness. The author has done extensive research, and the writing is reasonably good, although it can be a bit slow at times.

One aspect that I did not particularly like was the author's self-insertion into the story. Nevertheless, if you have an interest in politics, learning about other countries and cultures, or enjoy slice of life novels, then "Snow" may be worth considering. It is a book that is highly relevant to today's world.

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not biased in any way.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

When I first read Orhan Pamuk (Cevdet Bey ve Oğulları), I was in university and he hadn't won the Nobel Prize yet nor was he on the bestseller lists. I vividly remember how bored I was while reading. If I don't like a writer when I first read their work, I don't usually give them another chance. Later, due to Orhan Pamuk's political stance, I had no intention of reading him again. However, when someone I really liked told me to read this book, I decided to read it again after all these years. I'm making all these explanations because I think this review should be read in the light of this information.

Despite all my desire to like it, I couldn't. If we remove the political statements from this 450-page book and add a bit more of the inner world of the characters, the love story I expected could have emerged.

Nearly all of the political statements are clichéd and familiar in relation to the relevant ideological views. In my opinion, rather than supporting the story, writing like this seems to be motivated by the desire to get praise from the 'enlightened' segment. (Oya Baydar's Sıcak Külleri Kaldı book also contains intense political statements but it doesn't overshadow the story).

Another thing that bothered me in the book is that he buried Kars under the guise of Amiyane. It's not that Ka's reason for coming to Kars and not liking Kars because of his mental state while he was there. If that were the case, I could have thought that he projected his inner turmoil onto the city.

Another reason is that I didn't like the character of Ka. I don't like books whose characters I don't like. I think I want bad characters to be bad and good characters to be good. Just as I don't like people who have an ambiguous stance, who are not clear-cut, I also don't like the characters in novels/stories. As İpek said, if Ka really wanted to, he would come back to Kars... But something must have weighed heavier on him than the pain he endured easily by leaving things to themselves.

The general perception that Orhan Pamuk is difficult to read is not true for this book. There is no situation where I couldn't put it down, but there is also no convoluted language that makes it difficult for the reader.

I think those who like Orhan Pamuk will also like this book. If you don't like him, don't waste your time...

I read a few sample pages of "Snow" in the bookstore. I was drawn to it by its blurry, snowy cover. It also caught my attention because of a recent New York Times review. Moreover, its non-westernized roots in Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk were appealing. And, of course, my curiosity about this recent Nobel Prize winner for literature played a part. The first few pages truly mesmerized me. The scene of a Turkish poet riding a bus through the snow captured my imagination, even as I left the bookstore.

"Snow" never stops falling throughout this lengthy novel, and it indeed becomes a barometer of the human condition. It is also the title of a poetry collection that the Turkish poet, Ka, writes over its time span. A diagram of a snowflake is his diagram of his core self, with branches into imagination, reason, and memory. As snow gathers over the events of the story, it sometimes becomes a blizzard, and at other times a gentle white blanketing over a trampled earth.

Ka is traveling to the city of Kars to write an article about an epidemic of suicides among young Turkish women. As westernization has entered this predominantly Muslim city, these young women have been "freed" to discard their head scarves. However, their religious beliefs are such that baring their heads in public is more than they can bear - they would rather die. While investigating the suicides, Ka meets recently divorced Ipek, and he is instantly enthralled. The ensuing story is as much a political rebellion as it is a love story, complete with executions, betrayals, love found and love lost, and mysteries never quite solved.

I've grown up on European literature, with its dense and intricate plotlines, stories that don't rush to a conclusion and don't follow a linear path. This is in contrast to fast-paced western literature with spare plotlines, quick action, and neatly wrapped-up endings. Of course, there are exceptions. But when I'm in the mood to sink deep into a multi-layered tome, I choose non-western literature. And when I want a quick tap-dance of literary skill, I choose American literature. Each has its own pleasures, and "Snow" is no exception. I enjoyed this blizzard, even if at times I lost sight of the path because of all the white stuff.

Even the love story in "Snow" reminded me of the difference in the expression of love in different cultures. Ka falls into something nearing a worshipful obsession, immersing himself whole into the object of his affection. In contrast, a westernized love story would be more geared toward seduction and conquest, less about the dance of courtship and romance. There is a surrender to the heart with nothing left in reserve in non-western literature that fascinates me. It's do or die, love or leave. For this reason alone, I enjoy reading literature by a variety of international authors, as each provides a view into a varied perspective and life sense.

In any culture, however, the human heart breaks for the same reasons. We read of Ka's devastation at learning that his beloved has betrayed him with another. From this heartbreak is seeded a suspicion of murder (did Ka or didn't he?). The scene of confrontation between Ka and Ipek is perhaps the novel's most moving. Hearts are shattered even as they continue to find comfort in each other's arms, a fatal mix of love threaded with hatred, and finally released by the chill of apathy. Pamuk writes of the complexities of love as far more baffling than reason alone might explain, and each time as unique as a snowflake.

"Snow" is not a quick read. Nor is it an easy one. Like Ka's love, it requires immersion and a certain degree of surrender. It is a skilled and often marvelous novel, even if I'm not convinced it's worthy of the Nobel. I would say not. Yet it is worth the effort to move through this snowfall, if only for the occasional moment of sheer literary mastery.

I read this novel back in 2005. Here are my thoughts of it then that still have meaning for me now.

Novels like Pamuk’s "Snow" can be understood at different levels. It can be considered as pure entertainment, offering political intrigue and thrill. Or it can serve as a virtual door into a foreign place, revealing the lives of far away people, their time or preoccupations.

Pamuk has attempted to present us with all three options in one. The reader is exposed to a panoramic view of Turkey’s political and religious conflicts and ethnic tensions. His multitude of characters represents every conceivable strand of Turkish society: Atatürk secularism and pro-European modernism on the one hand and various religious factions of Muslim faith on the other. By compressing the events into one locale, a remote, poor and backward town, Kars, in Eastern Turkey, he creates a charged playing field. A major snowstorm has cut off the access roads to the town, bringing the conflicting positions to boiling point.

Within this complex political turmoil, wanders Ka, the protagonist of the story. A recently unproductive poet, he returned from Germany to attend his mother’s funeral. Presenting himself as a journalist, he claims to be interested in the headline story: the headscarf girls’ suicides. On a personal level, he wants to find a “Turkish girl” to marry and take back to Germany.

The story is told by Orhan, a close friend of Ka, four years after the events in Kars. In many ways he describes Ka as a somewhat confused, middle-aged man, whose exposure to the realities of Kars result in his questioning his life so far. He is taking in all political and religious positions, getting increasingly entangled as events unfold.

Pamuk himself described “Snow” as a political novel. Is it convincing in that ambition? For the reader who is not that familiar with Turkey or its language, it is difficult to judge its value in this category. My own interpretation is that Pamuk created a satire on Turkey and its historical and present-day problems. The exaggeration in the description of Kars, political intrigues, religious fanaticism, military brutality, and Ka’s own personality would lead to that assessment. My overall impression is that of a strange mix of over-detailed realistic reporting on events and circumstances in Kars during a snow storm and very generalized, almost philosophical commentary on love, poetry, happiness in which the character Ka is embedded.

In conclusion, "Snow" is a complex and multi-faceted novel that offers a unique perspective on Turkey and its society. While it may not be a perfect political novel, it does succeed in raising important questions and provoking thought. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Turkish literature or culture.

Up until now, I had not engaged with Orhan Pamuk at all, which is of course unacceptable. So, inspired by the current conditions of this year's winter, I chose to start with this book. In it, the great Turkish author transports us to a small town in the depths of Anatolia to show us a microcosm of Turkish society in the last few decades. In this small town, then, all those categories of people that we encounter in Turkey coexist, with their concerns, their agonies, and their aspirations. The main thing that of course concerns all of them is their country's relationship with the West. On the one hand, there are the adherents of the global power who desire that Turkey approach the West and shed all those religious and cultural elements that they believe hold their country back. On the other hand, there are the Islamists, moderate and fanatical, who desire a return to traditional values. Somewhere in between are also mixed in the Kurds and other ethnic minorities that complicate matters even further. All of these create the chaos of Turkish society and plunge it into a chaos where violence reigns. Amid all this, love also emerges somewhere, but it seems that even that is equally chaotic.

All of this in an excellent book, with a vivid and engaging writing style that accompanies a sharp and particularly penetrating literary eye. The problem, of course, is that the entire premise is very... Turkish, which means that a rather large part of the book is difficult to understand for those from the outside. In other places, perhaps the author writes more than is necessary, but for the most part, I found the book particularly enjoyable, something that will make me explore his work further.

Just arrived from Israel.

This is the story of a Turkish poet Ka. After living in exile in Frankfurt for a long time, he decides to return to the town of Kars. His purpose is to investigate the suicide of religious girls who are forbidden to wear their head scarves.

In the meantime, a military coup takes place at the National Theatre. Soldiers suddenly open fire, shooting several people among the audience. Some of them are known by Ka. The story also naturally incorporates some religious aspects, which add depth and complexity to the plot.

In my opinion, this book is a masterpiece of contemporary literature. It vividly depicts the social and political situation in Turkey, as well as the inner conflicts and struggles of the characters. Although some reviewers may disagree with my point of view, I firmly believe that this book has its own unique value and charm. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Turkish culture and contemporary literature.

A Turkish poet, who has returned home after his exile in Frankfurt, makes his way to a city called Kars. His purpose is to meet the woman he loves, or rather, is obsessed with. If you have a familiarity with Macondo in 100 Hundred Years of Solitude, you will notice the same gloomy and mysterious atmosphere in Kars. However, Kars is much colder than Macondo as it is surrounded only by snow.

This poet, known as Ka, decides to visit Kars to encounter the beautiful woman named Ipek. While Galip in The Black Book demonstrates his true love by wandering the city of Istanbul to find his lost wife, Ka seems to be a man preoccupied only with sex. The only thing on his mind is how to have sexual relations with Ipek. He even devises a plan to do so while her father is away, as her father is a barrier to their sexual encounter. Ka's sexual desire is also evident in some paragraphs where it is mentioned that he is attracted to Kadife, Ipek's sister.

Yet Snow is not merely a love story. It also exposes the systemic oppression of believers in Turkey. A suicide epidemic occurs in Kars. Interestingly, all the girls who commit suicide wear a head-scarf, which is a symbol of honor for believers but also a symbol of repression for atheists. If these girls truly believe in God, why would they commit suicide, a great sin according to the religion? The clash between believers and atheists (represented by the Republican) finally explodes in Kars. A stage drama turns into a massacre, and wearing a head scarf becomes a symbol of rebellion. This idea is presented gracefully by Mr. Pamuk. I sense that he writes this without any intention of taking sides. He simply wishes to describe what is happening in modern-day Turkey, and Kars is a microcosm of the country.

Snow is a novel with an idea that is relevant to contemporary problems. However, in my humble opinion, the weakness of this novel lies in Ka, the main character. He is not a strong and decisive character, and as a weak and dilemmatic character, he is not very convincing either. I understand why the women in the story would fall for Blue (the political Islamist) instead of Ka. The strength of Snow, on the other hand, lies in how Mr. Pamuk constructs Kars with words. You can feel the atmosphere of loneliness and despair in the city. After reading Snow, perhaps snow will no longer seem beautiful to us.