Wednesday, May 23, 2012

when istanbul was constantinople


i just read about orhan pamuk's newly-opened museum of innocence in istanbul. it's a brilliant concept, actually - because the museum is an extension of his novel of the same name. a novel and a museum as two representations of the same story - quite clever, really. and it makes me long to go to istanbul. i haven't read that novel (am ordering it immediately from the library), but from what i can gather, it is permeated with nostalgia for an instanbul that is no more. there's something about balkan writers - they walk a fine line between kitsch and nostalgia and usually, they walk it well. go and read the piece about the museum. then i'll meet you there!

6 comments:

Lynne said...

I popped off to Amazon to check the book out, and there are some depressingly bad reviews there. I am always so torn when I see bad reviews. What do I trust? What do I do? It this book worth $11?
I think I'll wait for you to read it and report back.

Michelle said...

Ah... lovely. I feel the connections to the balkans, the history, the art, the romance, the intrigue, the rising house prices and gentrification.. and the souce: the globe and mail!

:) loved it

Relyn Lawson said...

Fascinating! Thank you so much for telling us about it. I do LOVE thinkers like this.

Missouri Bend Paper Works said...

Thanks for this post!!! I keep seeing this book and wanting to read it, yet other titles keep calling my name. I love the ideas here and the fact that physical space has also been erected. I love the notion of the "object" holding memory and essence.....I'm off to get the book!! Cheers!

julochka said...

I've got it from the library and am about 25 pages in - love it so far. I am already transported to a nostalgic Istanbul.

julochka said...

I definitely think objects hold memory...like quilts, they definitely do. I sometimes feel frustratingly unable to access it. I think that's why I especially love the idea of a book-museum connection.