Hello Gentle Reader
The Swedish Academy had summarised the two-thousand and six Nobel Laureate in Literature’s win of the Nobel Prize with the following statement: “In the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city, [Pamuk] has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures.” Snow is such a book that represents such a clash of interlacing cultures, and the divide of east and west, and more specifically Turkey’s interesting role in both Europe and the Middle East. Both a bridge, and a swirling whirlpool, of clash of east and west, cultures, which causes many problems and issues for the country itself and its citizens. Forced between the freedoms and scientific acceptances of many western countries, and their democratic process of life – but also their lack of being in touch with the roots of their society; or the traditional home and values of their ancient civilization, based on the Islamic religion – however which stifles freedom, personal growth in newer areas of life (like science and democratic functions). Turkey is placed in the middle, of both Middle East and North Africa, and Europe. In the time of the Ottoman Empire, which is now modern day Turkey – the empire played greatly in the game of imperialism, and world politics along with many other great empires of the time like: Great Britain, France, Russia, Germany and Japan. However after the first World War, the Ottoman Empire began to collapse. In its wake it has left many displaced people. The Kurdish people, Armenians, Arabs, Assyrians/Syriacs, Roma people, Georgians, and Circassians. The Nobel Laureate in Literature of two-thousand and six, Orhan Pamuk is a political author. Whether or not he wishes he was or decided to be or not, he is. As his translator (into English) Maureen Freely had said in the Nobel documentary that Orhan Pamuk as a Turkish novelist of prominence, he has a public role. This makes him a political writer. He speaks of the displacement of the people of Turkey and the clash of Islamic traditions and the western mass culture that has slowly been seeping into the country through the years.
The novel “Snow,” does not take place in Istanbul like “The Black Book,” or “My Name is Red,” had done previously. “Snow,” takes place in Kars – a city a bit farther from Istanbul, and shows the displacement of people. The unemployment and how the men play cards in the coffee shops. Ka, a Turkish poet living abroad (mainly Germany) for the past decade returns to Turkey, for a few reasons, one to find an old classmate and love interest Ipek as well as to report on the suicide girls that have been happening in the far east border town. The suicide girls are the group of martyrs, of girls who refuse to take off their head scarves in school, as the educational system has since banned the wearing of them in their institutions. What proceeds is a novel about spirituality, and Turkey’s secularism and the issues arousing from it, and the clash between Islamic fundamentalism and the Turkish Secularists.
As one reviewer and fellow reader, had said, compared to “My Name is Red,” “Snow,” is far more accessible, for the average or general reader. Which is true, it is more accessible, then “My Name is Red,” however “Snow,” does not really compare to the wonders of the great novel “The Black Book,” and the journey for identity that takes place within the novel. “Snow,” on the other hand “Snow,” deals more politically in its elements of Islam and the Western Ideologies that Turkey is forced to face. However this novel, while reading it felt more like Orhan Pamuk spiritual yearning or that the author himself dealing with some form of spiritual crisis. At times, I wondered if Ka was Orhan Pamuk in many ways, trying to make sense of his life, and background, as well his spiritual necessities and coming to terms with his ambivalent and sometimes troubled relationship with his own country. It felt like Orhan Pamuk had lamented his spiritual collapse, as well as his complicated relationship with his country. Who could forget the charges brought on Orhan Pamuk by his own government for insulting Turkishness when recognized his own countries genocide of the Armenian people between nineteen-fifteen and nineteen-eighteen.
With “Snow,” tension can already be seen rising. The snow storm that has attacked Kars, has isolated the city. A municipal election is in the workings – for mayor; and there is a strong police presence within the city. At first Ka does his best, to stay out of the entire situation – at least on a political situation. For the most part Ka, does his journalistic duties. He talks to many people of the town about the Suicide Girls. However over time, Ka is engulfed in more than just the regional problems. He is engulfed in the political issues, being suffered in his homeland. Though viewed as an outsider Ka, is seen as something both of corrupted Western influence, but also as something of keen interest. Someone who has seen the outside world, and its workings. The authority of the police are weary of being too rough with Ka mostly because of his connections with Istanbul and Germany, and the Islamists see him as corrupted and as a infidel, however someone they can use to get the message across. Eventually Ka finds himself like Turkey itself the go between, the two factions.
Even though Ka is a atheist and is usually brought into question, as well as his self-doubt and maybe even a desire to once again have a relationship with God, he finds that even a moderate belief or desire – or to have a belief in God like a Westerner will never be enough to impress the fundamentalist of the Islamic though that have infiltrated Kars, as seen by the passage below:
“Before I got here, I hadn't written a poem in years," he said. "But since coming to Kars, all the roads on which poetry travels here have reopened. I attribute this to the love of God I've felt here."
"I don't want to destroy your illusions, but your love of God comes out of Western romantic novels," said Blue. "In a place like this, if you worship God as a European, you're bound to be a laughingstock. Then you cannot even believe you believe. You don't belong to this country; you're not even a Turk anymore. First try to be like everyone else. Then try to believe in God.”
This war between Islamic traditions and its puritan nature, and strict laws, can be seen everywhere. Even in the family lives of characters. Ipek’s family itself is suffering from the divide as well. Ipek’s marriage broke up over her husband unreasonable demand that she wear a head scarf. While her sister Kadife is active in the Islamic movement that has its hold on Kars. Though Kadife seems to me as a reader, arrogant and even at times overtly devote in her cause and her religious beliefs, which cause extreme tension in the home.
However the tension finally goes from bad, to worst, for Ka and the city of Kars. After a televised event – where Ka performs a poem he did, a group of people, perform a play condemning the head scarf. The leader of the theatre group receives a message, and announces the death – or more specifically the murder of the director of the Educational Institute who was murdered by an Islamic fundamentalist. Immediately after (as soldiers had taken the stage) they open fire on the audience – Necip a young Muslim man, that Ka meets is killed in the line of fire, along with others. With the soldiers in place, a coup is in effect. Ka now meets Sunay Zaim the theatre director and a avid Turkish Republican, who has played prominent authoritarian figures over the years like Napoleon and Lenin. Though his real wish is to play Ataturk the founder of the Turkish Republic. With the coup in place, and Kars being isolated away from the rest of Turkey, Sunay has become the revolutionary dictator, which he plays on the stage – because of his friendship with the senior military officer. Ka now is thrown into the political engagements of the Islamists and the Republican Secularists. What unfolds is a political thriller with Orhan Pamuk’s postmodern techniques of writing.
Throughout the book Orhan Pamuk writes about the troubles of his home and native land. What it means to be a Turk, and what it means to be Muslim how the religiously devote and the non-religiously devote fight time and time again for their own rights. The militant action of the Islamist fundamentals, as well as being an outsider and an exile in one’s own country.
I’ll admit this was not my favourite book by Orhan Pamuk – I have made no issue in saying that “The Black Book,” is my favourite book, by him. However Orhan Pamuk with this book showed the divides between his country and its many inhabitants. Its constant struggle for western ideologies and eastern religious thoughts. How the two cultures wage war, and swirl around each other constantly within his native city. However Orhan Pamuk leaves a lasting impression on the reader. A feeling for more. With memorable quotes and lines from many passages and words, there is a breath of life in this work of fiction.
My favourite line is “it only snows once in our dreams,” or something along those lines. It felt like a beautifully poetic and sensual piece or prose, and memorable as well. It’s not the Laureates best piece of work, but it certainly is a great piece of work for sure.
Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
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