Thank God I am done.

I love you still, Orhan. You have this strange hold on me that I can't quite explain. But right now, I do not want to read anything else from you. For a good while. The words you write, they can be so intense, so overwhelming at times. It was bordering on torture. There were moments when I thought I couldn't take it anymore, when I was about to throw it all away.

Yet, somehow, you would be redeemed right when I was on the verge of giving up. It's only you who has this power over me. Your words, your stories, they have the ability to make me feel things I never thought possible. Even when it's painful, there's something in it that keeps me coming back for more.

Maybe it's the way you see the world, or the way you express your emotions. Whatever it is, it's a part of you that I can't seem to let go of. But for now, I need a break. I need time to process everything that I've read, to let my heart and mind recover.

Thank you, Orhan, for the journey you've taken me on. But for now, it's time to step back and take a breath.

**Yeni Hayat = The New Life, Orhan Pamuk**

The protagonist, Osman, first spots the book in the university canteen when a female student, Janan, briefly places a copy on his table. Later, he purchases his own copy at a bookstall and is so excited by this novel that he sets out in pursuit of the new life it promises. Janan introduces Osman to her lover Mehmet, who has also read the book and visited the world it describes. Osman, who is currently charmed by Janan, witnesses Mehmet being shot at a bus stop, but the injured man mysteriously disappears and cannot be traced at any hospital.

The two then embark on surreal bus journeys in search of Mehmet. One of the buses has a road accident that results in fatalities, yet they survive and appropriate the wallets and identities of two deceased passengers. They continue the journey and encounter Dr. Fine, Mehmet's father.

Spoilers alert It turns out that he had sent spies to keep an eye on his rebellious son and to murder other readers of the book. Janan herself vanishes, and Osman goes on more surreal and violent bus journeys. Later, it seems that a deceased friend of Osman's father, Uncle Rifki, may actually be the author of the book.

The story explores themes such as the new life versus the old and traditional life, reality and truth versus imagination and mindsets, maturity and experience versus inexperience and youthful naivety, tradition versus modernity, Western culture versus Eastern culture. It also touches on topics like love, death, existence, coincidence, and the problems of the Eastern human in a crisis-ridden era, as well as the unperceived joys.

The dates of first reading, publication details, and various quotes from the book are also provided, adding depth and context to the overall narrative.

“One day I read a book that changed my life,” he begins, referring to a book of the same name. Osman, an adolescent, in love, starts a search that takes him along the roads of Turkey, in pursuit of that “country” described in the book, with the feeling that it was “written for him.” As he travels, he learns, and the illusion, with remnants of the childhood search, gradually loses its shine, imperceptibly submerging him in a personal decline. Where did he lose his way?, he asks himself in his adulthood. Perhaps, at the beginning, in the illusory search for the lost absolutes of childhood, personal and of his homeland. In a final search, he begins to glimpse what he has lost by living for that search (against time?), and in that way he reaches the angel he was looking for, albeit at a high price.

The novel is long, and at times difficult to follow, with a sense of unease; but it is a deeply human story, with some gems, in general, as the author mentions, difficult to put into words (reserved for poets).

I read a book one day that completely changed my life.

With that captivating sentence, "Orhan Pamuk" began his strange novel, which is not only in its idea but also in the way of handling and controlling the details, no matter how insignificant or small they may be, but there is nothing insignificant in the world of this crazy Turkish writer!

The novel briefly revolves around a young man named "Osman" who accidentally - not entirely accidentally - comes across a book that changes his life forever. Through it, he feels a strong light that forces him not to accept his old life and drives him to search for another way for a new life. And from here, his story begins with his colleague "Jinan" and his lover "Mohammad".

The greatest darkness came from Osman's path in the parties where he moves with his friend from place to place in search of the new life. Not only that, but through their long journey, the writer reveals to us the effects of the new Western culture on Turkish society, especially in the negative aspect, which are the things that increased the hero's enthusiasm for searching for a real society without falsehood.

And the hero not only satisfies with searching for that new life, but also desires from within to search for the author of the book, only to discover later that he was closer to him than he imagined.

The beginning was extremely charming and a little less charming later, but the end was also charming like the beginning.

The novel is not suitable for the entertainment of reading light works, as it requires a great deal of focus and patience so as not to tire of it in the middle.

The final rating: between 3.5 and 4 stars.

On 03/08/2008, I had a profound reading experience.

I read slowly, allowing the tentacular, pellucid sentences to transport me to a world of mystical adventure. It was clumsy yet entrancing. Reading it a second time slowly made me realize all the symmetry, puns, and even the autobiographical bits and pieces of the author himself. It evoked a range of feelings, similar to those you get when traveling by bus to distant places. There was the excitement and toxic exhilaration of reading good books, as well as the awe and scepticism of the mystery of life and love.

I would definitely read this book again.

P.S. I gave four stars before. What was I thinking?

On 06/07/2008, I had some notes on the second reading.

I was in the mood for a book that would blow me away. Let's see what this book would take me on the second reading.

I haven't had such an intense feeling from my readings lately.

The novel begins with the sentence: "I read a book one day and my whole life was changed." It intrigued me to read on. The back cover described it as part road novel, part metaphysical thriller. Osman, a young university student, becomes obsessed with a magical book that delves into the dangerous nature of love and self. He turns his back on home and family, abandons his studies, and goes on a search for the meaning of the book's darker secrets.

I was a university student once, young enough to turn my back on home in search of adventure. I remember a writer saying that when we read, we actually search for ourselves or its elements in the book. You do the math!

It's quite difficult for me to say something about the story. I guess I have to read it again. I'm not sure if I got the "dark secret" of the book. Either I don't understand (remember) it completely or Pamuk didn't really say it. I just remembered how much I enjoyed the flow of this difficult novel. It's much different in mode compared to when you're reading "Da Vinci Code" or something like that.

I watched an interview with Pamuk on a Norwegian national TV. He is an interesting figure, playful and rather "wickedly" suggestive. That was partly the reason I wanted to read his work.

Talih diye okumuştum bir yerde, kör değil cahildir. This statement really caught my attention.

I don't know why I waited so long to reread one of my favorite books. Maybe I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to recapture the effect it had on me the first time I read it. But it was the opposite. I loved it even more. I felt different things. I was even excited while reading it for some reason...

The idea of a book changing one's life in an instant and searching for an unknown world is truly fascinating. Thinking that you may not find it but still continuing to search, believing in something unknown...

It was amazing ☹️ Pamuk wrote such a masterpiece at a young age, with an excellent structure, small messages, implications...

I think I will reread The Black Book too, I can't help it...

"Why does a person think with words and suffer because of images."

"Reading was not an experiment for me, it was a kind of remembering, a kind of suffering..."

"If books arouse in me a compulsion to talk, they were doing this job among themselves inside my head even more."

There are some books. Maybe reading them won't change your life, but when you read, you will experience a wonderful torture and enjoy it with a masochistic feeling. Orhan Pamuk's 'New Life' is exactly such a book. The sentences in it are pulling you, stretching the limits of your mind and making you endure the most beautiful torture on earth. Sometimes I can't understand what it means, and I struggle, but this also becomes a reason for me to love the book on its own. Orhan Pamuk is definitely a literary wizard. Every time I pick up his books, he is the only author who gives me the excitement of wondering what I will encounter this time.

This book takes you on a journey through a world of complex emotions and ideas. The language is rich and descriptive, painting vivid pictures in your mind. It challenges your thinking and makes you question your own beliefs and values. Despite the difficulties in understanding, it is precisely these challenges that make the reading experience all the more rewarding. You find yourself getting lost in the story, completely immersed in the world that Pamuk has created.

Whether you are a fan of literature or just looking for a good read, 'New Life' is a book that is sure to captivate you. It is a testament to Pamuk's talent as a writer and his ability to create works that are both thought-provoking and deeply engaging. So, pick up this book and prepare to embark on a journey that will change the way you look at the world.

I didn't read it in its entirety. I gave up somewhere when I stumbled upon the dead and injured from the multiple accidents described. Pamuk seemed obsessed with the theme. Fortunately, I had already read "The Red-Haired Woman", which I loved and recommend.

It's quite understandable that I couldn't continue reading this particular piece. The vivid descriptions of the accidents and the associated casualties were perhaps a bit too overwhelming for me.

On the other hand, "The Red-Haired Woman" was a completely different experience. It had a charm and allure that kept me engaged from start to finish.

Maybe it's just a matter of personal taste. While some might be drawn to Pamuk's exploration of the darker aspects of life, I find myself more inclined towards stories that offer a glimmer of hope or a more positive perspective.

Nevertheless, I still appreciate Pamuk's talent as a writer and look forward to exploring more of his works in the future.

Hayat buydu işte. It was not there, nor in another place, neither in heaven nor in hell. The magnificent life was precisely here, within this moment. It was a profound realization that made one stop and appreciate the beauty and significance of the present. Orhan Pamuk's words have the power to make us look at life from a different perspective. His works are a testament to his deep understanding of the human condition and the mysteries of existence. We are fortunate to have such a talented writer among us. İyi ki varsın Orhan Pamuk❤️

While I was deeply engrossed in reading this book, I couldn't help but constantly look out for those who have also delved into its pages.

This book, which has the power to lure one into a state of disbelief regarding life, death, and oneself, is far from being an ordinary text.

I had an intense desire to meet those people and inquire about their feelings towards this extraordinary piece of wonder. It has the ability to uproot many from their dense and mundane lives and transport them to a treacherous and deceiving adventure, influenced by madness and movies.

As I hum these doggerel lines found on the insides of the New Life caramel wrappers, I wonder if there could be any other brighter way to sum up this book.

The book has the tendency to send a reader tumbling down into the fierce depth of a well where the extent of Pamuk's literary capacities lies at rest (or perhaps in a jumble).

Those long and jostling bus rides, along with the encounters with death and our humble protagonist, reek of On the Road and The Usual Suspects, with the philosophical tours as our old Dostoevsky would have done.

Pamuk is the reason I still have faith in contemporary mainstream literature.

And so, once you read this book, you will never be the same.

After reading the opening sentence of The New Life, "I read a book one day and my whole life was changed," I couldn't help but wonder whether reading this very book was going to have a profound impact on my own life.

This is the captivating story of Osman, an engineering student who becomes completely obsessed with a book and, in the process, falls deeply in love with a girl named Janan, who shares the same intense passion for the written word. The novel primarily follows their meandering journey through Turkey, as they move aimlessly from one city to another, in search of the new life that the book seems to promise.

At certain moments, as a reader, I found myself questioning their sanity. What was the true meaning behind this mystical journey? Was Pamuk, in this novel, the modern literary equivalent of a whirling dervish, seeking God, the meaning of life, or one's true self, much like the Sufis? Or perhaps this new life was all about an identity crisis, a theme that Pamuk seems to explore frequently?

Could it be that Osman's wandering symbolizes Turkey and its tumultuous historical journey, striving to reach a point where the never-ending conflict and contradiction between the East and the West would finally come to an end?

Once again, like all of his other novels, The New Life is not an easy read. However, it is rich with poetic philosophy and ambiguous dilemmas, which is precisely what I loved the most about it. I was constantly tempted to put the book down after just a few pages, but then, like savoring a fine wine, I would find myself compelled to ponder the deeper meaning of what I had just read.

In my case, while Pamuk has undeniably changed my life with each of his novels, I must also confess that I have, in a sense, transformed his words through my own unique perspective. The beauty of Pamuk's work lies in the fact that no matter what conclusion any reader might arrive at, nothing in his writing is ordinary. Each of us will read the book through our own eyes, and in doing so, we will inevitably change it based on who we are, as if each reader is tasked with rewriting this entire journey. And this, without a doubt, is Orhan Pamuk's greatest strength.

I really enjoyed reading 'Yeni Hayat'. Orhan Pamuk's magnificent 'first-person narrative' is also shown in the most beautiful way in this book. The author's occasional conversations with the reader have added a special color to the book.

I recommend reading 'Kara Kitap' before 'Yeni Hayat' as I think it has many similar features and content. In fact, due to the fact that the concept of 'being myself and the other' first appeared in Pamuk's books, I think it would be good if 'Beyaz Kale' was also read before this book.

Each character in 'Yeni Hayat' is carefully created and all of them are very harmonious with the structure. The plot is also very good. When reading the book, you neither fall into a void nor get bored. There is a much better balance than in Pamuk's previous books.

I definitely recommend 'Yeni Hayat'.