Recent Turkish Read

I just finished reading the book Kopru, by Ayse Kulin (in Turkish too, I'm so proud of myself). It was an interesting book that delved into a lot of the social problems facing the economically deprived eastern part of the country. The book is about the governor of Erzincan trying to get a bridge built to connect a small, secluded part of the province. The government will not do it because it is too expensive and, in their opinion, not worth their while. So the book tells about how the governor goes about trying to get this bridge built with private funds and whatnot. At the same time there is a parrallel plot about a man who lost his wife in child birth because he was unable to cross the river in time because of the absense of a bridge. The governor sends him to a couple who also just had a child, so they can look after his child and the woman can breast-feed him. We then find out about the couple, whose lives are like a textbook of social problems. The book gives us insights into such pressing matters as Kurdish terrorism, abuse by genderme, religious conflict, "blood" feuds, and so much more. I'm not going to say its the best book I've ever read, but it was interesting. I'd give it a 7/10.