Good grief, what a mess of a book this is!

I really made an earnest attempt, but unfortunately, I just couldn't bring myself to finish it.

I was initially interested in it because I had already read around a dozen books on WWI and the fall of the Ottoman Empire. However, I wasn't seeking a dry history book; rather, I was渴望ing a captivating story.

The author droned on for pages and pages about the history of that era, and some of it wasn't even entirely accurate. For instance, suggesting that the Kurds were responsible for the Armenian genocide is a blatant misrepresentation.

The remainder of the text felt like a history lecture that I simply didn't require and that failed to推进the story. It also seemed as if the author was overly enamored with his own prose, and his writing was more influenced by his vanity than by the actual story he was trying to tell.

I possess a vocabulary that is better than average, yet I was left completely stumped by obscure words that couldn't be defined by the online dictionary. Moreover, he used a vast number of words specific to Turkish culture and the country without bothering to define them. For all I know, he might have just made them up!

Overall, this book has been a huge disappointment.

I absolutely LOVED this book.

It presents a captivating story of true friendships that are unfortunately torn asunder by the superficial definitions of separateness.

The book delves into a wide range of profound topics. It explores the concept of beauty, the significance of birth, the unconditional love of a parent, the special bond of a brother's love, the heartache of unrequited lovers, the harsh reality of addiction, the inevitability of death in old age, and the brutality of untimely death.

What makes this book truly remarkable is the way it tells the story of Ataturk and the Armenian forced migration. It does so in a balanced and objective manner, yet also manages to maintain an intimate connection with the reader.

Moreover, it vividly描绘s the unity that once existed between the Greeks and the Turks before Wilson's nationalism marred it.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, human relationships, and the power of love and friendship in the face of adversity.

Tracing the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the birth of the modern republic of Turkey, this novel presents a captivating account. It alternates between the first and third person narratives of various characters from the fictional town of Eskibahçe in southwest Turkey, along with an account of the life of Mustafa Kemal, later known as Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first leader of modern Turkey.

At the turn of the 20th century, the inhabitants of Eskibahçe, consisting of Muslim Turks, Greek-origin Christians, and Armenians, lived together in relative harmony, forming friendships and even inter-marrying. However, this idyllic life was shattered by World War I, Turkey's war with Greece, the Armenian genocide, and the forced exile of Turkish Christians to Greece and Muslim Greeks to Turkey.

De Bernières' prose is beautiful and accessible, creating a strong sense of time and place. The chapters on the Gallipoli campaign are particularly powerful, offering a Turkish perspective on a well-known event for Australians and New Zealanders. The accounts of the forced exodus of Armenians and the expulsion of Greeks and Muslims are also moving.

It took some time for me to fully engage with the characters and the narrative, as this is a long novel with a slow build-up. Despite the presence of humour, the work is a serious indictment of extreme nationalism, religious dogma, and war. Yet, it also explores human resilience and the power of love and friendship. Eskibahçe represents a Turkey where different religious and ethnic communities could coexist peacefully, and the tragic love story of Ibrahim and Philotei symbolizes the fate of Greek Christians expelled from Turkey.

Before reading this novel, I had a basic understanding of Turkey's political situation since the 1980s. By reading it, I gained a deeper knowledge of the beginnings of modern Turkey and was able to place my existing knowledge in a historical context. Although this is not an easy novel to read, it made me laugh and cry, and for a patient reader interested in 20th century international relations, it offers a rewarding literary experience. I am grateful to my GR friend Chrissie for recommending it to me.

[4+] Birds Without Wings is indeed my most cherished type of historical novel. De Bernieres has an extraordinary talent for transporting readers to the fictional village of Eskibahçe during the final years of the Ottoman Empire. His vivid writing style makes the town's residents come alive in the most realistic way. It's as if I could see them going about their daily lives, interacting with one another, and facing the challenges of that tumultuous era.

Not only does the novel provide a captivating fictional story, but it also offers a wealth of knowledge about the historical period and the complex events that led to the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. Through the eyes of the characters, I gained a deeper understanding of the political, social, and cultural forces at play.

I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version, which was narrated superbly by John Lee. His voice added an extra layer of depth and authenticity to the story, making it an even more immersive experience. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and wants to explore a fascinating period of history.

The story of the emergence of modern Turkey is vividly presented through the life of a village near Fethiye, Telmessos, located on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. Indeed, Turkey is truly the crossroads of continents, which implies that it has been a battleground for armies since the dawn of civilization. De Bernieres' detailed description of the fighting and atrocities before, during, and after World War I makes one feel that although the forced relocation of Greek Turks to Greece and Turkish Greeks to Turkey was extremely horrible, it might have been, in some terrible way, necessary. Levon the Armenian was always regarded as an "outsider" in Eskibahce, and once the Ottoman Empire fell, there would be no peace until the Turks either killed or expelled all the "others".

There are numerous wonderful characters in the story, and many storylines remain unresolved. What became of Drousoula's family? What happened to Daskalos Leonidas Efendi? To Layla Hanim? To Mehmetcik? Then I realized that they were all Greeks. The Turks left behind never knew the fate of their friends. Why should I?

This is a lengthy but rewarding read, especially if you have traveled in Turkey or plan to do so. It offers a profound and poignant exploration of the complex history and human experiences that have shaped this remarkable country.

It allows readers to gain a deeper understanding of the past and the forces that have influenced Turkey's development.

Through the eyes of the characters in the village, we witness the impact of war, political upheaval, and cultural change.

The unresolved storylines add an element of mystery and leave room for readers to imagine and reflect on the possible fates of the characters.

Overall, this book is a valuable addition to the literature on Turkey's history and a must-read for anyone interested in this fascinating region.

This is an absolutely stunning, deeply engrossing, and truly mind-bending work of historical fiction. After devouring its 550 pages, I was left completely spellbound. It vividly tells the story of the Great Exchange between the Turks and the Greeks after WWI. This event was indeed one of the greatest disasters in history. However, the story commences long before that. It not only comprehensively covers the Gallipoli War during WWI and introduces Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the brilliant founder of modern-day Turkey, who led the Ottoman Turks to a remarkable victory against the Allies. But it also closely follows the Greco-Turkish war. During this war, Smyrna, present day Izmir, the very city where I was born, was tragically burned down. This is an enormous tragedy as it was one of the most cosmopolitan and popular cities of its era.

Soon after this horrible event, the politicians of both countries executed an even worse atrocity - the Great Exchange. It was a crazy idea of nationalism, whereby all Muslims living in Greece (who considered themselves Greek) had to return to Turkey, and all Christians living in Turkey had to return to Greece. Before this population exchange, the Greeks and Turks were so intricately intertwined that some Turks even wrote Turkish with Greek letters. My grandfather, who lived during that time, had a close Christian neighbor who selflessly offered him all his property before he was forcibly compelled to leave. The impact of this mass exchange was utterly devastating, and over a million people lost their homes and their lives as they had known it.

The Greeks and the Turks remain so intertwined to this day. At the Aegean beach town where I spent my summers, one can clearly see the storefronts of the Greek island Chios. And we can hear Greek radio because we are in such close proximity. My own grandfather was from Crete and then came over to Cyprus, an island that is inhabited by both Greeks and Turks.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to my fellow historical novel lovers and especially to my Greek and Turkish friends and those who have a profound love for Turkey!

One of the GoodReads groups I am in, The World's Literature, is focusing on literature from and about Turkey this year.

Birds Without Wings was one of the February picks (discussion will end up here). I started it a while ago, but it took me staying up until 2 am this morning to finish it.

This is an incredibly well-written novel. The author vividly portrays the story of Turkey in the early 20th century, from its evolution from the Ottoman Empire or Anatolia to a time when the people there began to embrace the words Turk, Turkish, and Turkey (previously, these terms had been rather derogatory). It's the second book I've read this year that includes Mustafa Kemal. While the other book focused on his violent acts from an outsider's perspective, Birds Without Wings weaves his story from youth to Atatürk and explains his crucial role in shaping the country as it is today. The portrayal is rather objective, presenting just the facts.

However, the core of the story isn't Mustafa Kemal. It centers on the people living in a small village where they speak Turkish written in a Greek alphabet, where friendships transcend religious and ethnic boundaries. But war and governmental changes bring conflict in all these aspects. It's a sad yet true transformation from tolerance to division. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, from Iskander the Potter to the mistress of the wealthiest man in town. The writing is rich, filled with local flavor, and flows quickly with the changing perspectives.

The author's opinion is evident throughout the novel, mourning the past when different people could live together peacefully in the days of the Ottoman Empire. The following quotation sums up a significant part of the book's tone: "It was said in those days one could hear seventy languages in the streets of Istanbul... It would be destined, perhaps, one day to find it again, if only the devilish false idols of nationalism, that specious patriotism of the morally stunted, might finally be toppled in the century to come."

Χμμμ, δεν ξέρω πώς να το κρίνω αυτό το βιβλίο.

Generally, when I read historical novels, especially those related to the wars between Greece and Turkey, I try to be as objective as possible and not let patriotism affect me. But it's not always easy.

I divide the book into three parts on my own.

In the first part, it describes life in Eskibahçe, where Armenians, Muslims, and Christians lived together without problems in the early 20th century. The description is excellent. Both the place and the people presented are described beautifully and clearly. Especially well-described is the way of life, the daily routine, and the harmonious coexistence among the believers of religions who had found a way to distance themselves from fanaticism and respect each other's religion.

In the second part... the wars begin, and many of the book's protagonists fight or suffer the consequences of the wars. The chapters in which one of the main protagonists (I don't want to say who) describes his memories of participating in the war and his experience of the battles in characters are extremely good. The description of the way battles were fought in the past, before machines and airplanes dominated, is wonderful.

I should also say that interspersed in the plot are chapters called "Mustafa Kemal," and as you can understand from the title, it is a record of Kemal's life and the historical events that were taking place. These historical references accompany and progress in time simultaneously with the plot and the life of the protagonists of the story.

Now, as for the "third part," it is a bit difficult to see it objectively. The book is written clearly from the Turkish (or more precisely, Ottoman) side, so in essence, it omits the "other side" of the story. It confronts you with the crimes committed by the Greeks, has Turks describe what they saw when they entered the areas that the Greek army had just left, and no matter how we look at it, it's not nice to be confronted with the crimes committed by your compatriots. The book is not anti-Greek - don't get that impression. It also talks about the Armenian genocide and the crimes of the Turks, it just also talks about what the Greeks did.

In this part, the part that takes up the description of history is a bit larger compared to the rest of the book, so the personal life of the book's protagonists lags behind a bit, but it really gives a rather good description of the events that preceded the Asia Minor catastrophe and the stance that the Europeans took in all these events.

I don't know if you consider yourself mature enough as a reader to read a book that puts certain things in their place (honestly, is there anyone who believes that in a war only one side commits crimes?) Read it anyway. The only thing that might prevent you from giving it a 10/10 is the mentioned national egoism - or at least that's what I think.

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"Beautiful" is an accurate word to describe this book, yet it hardly does it justice.

As a lover of history, anthropology, good storytelling, and especially Turkish culture, this book exceeded my expectations. It offers an exceptional portrayal of the struggles endured by ordinary people during the strange era between the end of the Ottoman Empire and the dawn of Atatürk's republic.

During this time, superficial lines were drawn between people who had lived side by side for centuries. People often overlook the human aspect of historical events and the deep cultural ties that bind these individuals. De Bernières, however, did an amazing job of depicting all of this while remaining true to the time period, culture, and characters.

Moreover, the language is poetic and enchanting from start to finish. I found myself with teary eyes on several occasions and even delayed reading the last few chapters to make the book last longer.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, culture, and a captivating story. It will transport you to a different time and place and leave you with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the human experience.

4.5 Stars


"Birds without Wings" by Louis Bernieres is an outstanding novel. It is a dense, mesmerising, harrowing, and yet humorous work that elicits a wide range of emotions from the reader. Set in the fictional village of Eskibahce in south-west Turkey, it portrays a community where Turkish Muslims and Greek Christians have coexisted for centuries, tolerating and enjoying each other's traditions and religions. However, when war is declared and the outside world intrudes, the peaceful fabric of life is shattered by the twin evils of religion and nationalism, leading to forced marches and massacres. The story is based on a real village, Kayakoy near Fethiye, which was deserted in 1923 when the Greek inhabitants were deported. The author's descriptions of the atrocities are harrowing, but there are also moments of wonderful humour that provide a welcome relief. The writing, characters, setting, and history are all impeccably crafted. Although the first 100 pages can be a bit of a struggle, it is well worth persevering as the novel is a truly wonderful read. Overall, I highly recommend this book to lovers of history.

Hopefully, a proper review will follow in the next few days. This is truly one of those special novels that had an immediate and powerful draw on me from the very first page. It held my attention captive and kept me completely riveted until the very last word. The characters within its pages became more than just fictional entities; they became real people that I truly cared about deeply. I know that I will think about them for a long time to come.

My top quotes from the novel are truly remarkable. “Man is a bird without wings and a bird is a man without sorrow.” This quote offers a profound and thought-provoking perspective on the nature of humanity and our relationship with the world around us.

The second quote, “There comes a point in life where each one of us who survives begins to feel like a ghost that has forgotten to die at the right time, and certainly most of us were more amusing when we were young. It seems that age folds the heart in on itself. Some of us walk detached, dreaming on the past, and some of us realize that we have lost the trick of standing in the sun. For many of us the thought of the future is a cause for irritation rather than optimism, as if we have had enough of new things, and wish only for the long sleep that rounds the edges of our lives”, sounds depressing at first glance. However, when spoken by the character Isklander the Potter, it takes on a whole new meaning. You begin to understand his assessment of life for him now, after the wars, after he has accidently maimed his son, after he has seen his village plundered and changed forever.

De Bernieres has that extra special gift in storytelling. His ability to create vivid characters and a captivating plot is truly remarkable. I offer a huge thank-you to Chrissie in the All About Books group for her fantastic review which led me to read this unforgettable novel. It is most highly recommended and I would rate it 4.5★.

This was a book that I embarked upon without any prior knowledge of the story, save for what my friend Marieke had shared with me, which was merely her impression of it. I concur with a great deal of what she said. However, I seldom shed tears while reading, and this instance was no different; yet, the story did deeply move me in certain parts.

Not only did I know very little about the actual story before delving into it, but I also admit to having scant knowledge of the events within the story, such as the Battle of Gallipoli. I must have missed those days when this story was taught in my history classes. (Though I have a hunch that this was an event that perhaps never truly made it into my history classes.)

The story is divided into numerous different viewpoints, which at times became a bit tiresome for me to read. Nevertheless, it also provided a fresh perspective on the same narrative. As is often the case with these types of books, I found myself more intrigued by one or two of the storylines compared to some of the others, which made my reading experience feel disjointed - a fault that I entirely own.

But here's the deal - I had long postponed reading this Louis de Bernieres fellow because, having worked in bookstores, I got really exhausted from people asking for that other book of his, Captain Corelli's Mandolin, or having people tell me that I haven't truly lived until I've read it. And then there was that movie with Nicolas Cage that I couldn't even take seriously. I was concerned that this book would be similar, but since Marieke is cool, I gave it a go. And I was not let down. It simply made me realize how ignorant I am about this area of the world's history.

So, for those of you who are in search of some borderline chick-lit, you can still read this. There is a love story here too, a very charming one at times, but not always joyous. Because it is also a war story, and war stories are rarely happy.

On a personal note, I might just give this author another chance, and perhaps (OMG) I might just read that book about the mandolin. We'll see. But I will probably still decline to watch the movie.