Bliss: A Novel | 
| Author: O.z. Livaneli
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $2.40
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Avg. Customer Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 81875
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 304
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.6
ISBN: 0312360541
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780312360542
ASIN: 0312360541
Publication Date: September 4, 2007
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Product Description
Fifteen-year-old Meryem lives in a rural village in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey. Her simple, conventional way of life changes dramatically after her uncle, a sheikh in a dervish order, rapes her—and condemns her to death for shaming the family. Asked to carry out the “honor killing” is his son Cemal, a commando in the Turkish army. So begins a long, mystifying voyage for Meryem as her shell-shocked cousin ushers her to the shining metropolis of Istanbul where another troubled soul, the Harvard-educated professor Irfan, embarks on his own journey of transformation—one that catapults him into the heart of Meryem and Cemal’s conflict. The crossed-paths and interwoven destinies of these three characters makes for an affecting, by turns brutal and life-affirming portrayal of traditional and modern-day Turkey that no reader will soon forget. “Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey’s musical, cultural, and political scene.”
--Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of Snow
“Bliss is eye-opening and deeply moving.”
--Kirkus Reviews (starred)
“Compelling [for] American readers …hard to put down.”
--The Cleveland Plain Dealer
“With lush scenes of Turkish life and nuanced depictions of the [characters’] inner lives. . .a convergence of lost, likable souls.”
--Entertainment Weekly O. Z. Livaneli, one of Turkey’s most prominent authors, is also an accomplished composer, and previously served as an elected member of the Turkish Parliament. For more information about his background and books, visit his website at www.livaneli.net.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 Well-written and disturbing October 2, 2008
I bought this book off the clearance rack at Barnes and Noble recently. I thought it sounded like an interesting read. I wasn't wrong. I loved the author's writing style. It was engaging and easy to read. As a person who has never been outside the United States, this book brought Turkey to life. It was almost like being there.
As a woman, it was hard to keep my anger in check at times. When I read books like this, there is a part of me that wants to believe that it's really not that bad, that the truth is being stretched. But I've read enough on the subject to know that just isn't true. This book may be fiction, but its portrayal of how Muslim men think of and treat women is all too real. That's not to say that only Muslims treat their women this way. I know that honor killings also happen in Hinduism and other places as well. But this book describes a reality that is very unsettling and not so easily dismissed. I think this would be a great book for a book club or discussion group. There is much in this book that would easily lend itself to discussion. It also raises some provocative questions. Questions that often have no simple or easy answers. But I think it is important for books like this to be written and read. As an American, it is hard for me to fathom how anyone (more or female) could view another person in these terms. The answer is not to just bury our heads in the sand and convince ourselves it has nothing to do with us. I believe that every person, regardless of race, religion, gender, nationality, age or economic status deserves to live a life of dignity.
For readers who would like to delve into this subject from a non-fiction perspective, I highly recommend "The Princess" by Sultana, which I've also reviewed on this site. This book is written by a female member of the Saudi royal family and goes into quite a bit of detail on the issue of women's rights and honor killings.
 Was more interested in the cover art. August 5, 2008
For me the most interesting aspect about this book is that it was a little introduction to Turkey. Unbeknownst to me, the Eastern character of Turkish culture seems to be very palpable. This is certainly the impression I got after finishing the book. There are other interesting pieces of historical titbits in this book too, like the struggles of the Turks and the Kurds. It's interesting how the author avoids the "g" word when talking about Armenians. I thought this was tactfully done...in a cheeky kind of way.
The down side to this book is that some parts are written in very florid prose, while others are very plainly written (especially in the middle of the book). I found the very sexist and twisted sense of honor in this culture very unsettling, even though I understand it's a reality in many parts of the world.
An important and accurate portrait of Turkey June 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am currently an expat living in Turkey with my Turkish husband and his family. For many years I have been interested in Turkish literature and this book is not only a great example of Turkish literary style, it is also the most accurate depiction of the strong social divide between city and village, educated and uneducated, rich and poor, available to the English speaking world. Livaneli offers a photorealistic portrait that is incredibly important for the world to see. Most importantly, the translation is exceptional. Turkish and English are at opposite ends of the language spectrum and therefore it is incredibly difficult to get an accurate translation. However, this translation has been brilliantly done and the lyrical style of the original has held true. I recommend this book highly.
Triumph of the Human Spirit April 19, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The author has a beautiful writing style that kept me swept up in the culture, the surrounds, and the lives of the three main characters. The inner struggle of each character was beautifully expressed and each character had both flaws and strengths--something too many books ignore. Very complex issues, but handled in a beautiful and understandable way. The growing pains of a culture and the people in that culture were heart-breaking. I loved the book and am recommending it to others.
 A story about all of us, NOT just Turks! April 8, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This novel was extremely moving in its portrayal of all 3 main characters, and the further I read, the more it occurred to me that this book is relevant to people from ALL societies, not just Islamic ones. The extreme sexism portrayed, especially in regard to rural Turkish society, does not seem all that shocking when one thinks about how women and girls are treated everywhere in the world . . . our main character, Meryem, feels shame and anguish over how she's been treated (and she's bought into a lot of it, too; she's come to believe that as a female she is "evil"). But when we think about the experiences of teenage girls everywhere (and, yes, including here in the States!!!!) aren't their experiences rife with sexual objectification (and abuse), shame, etc.? Aren't they being told everyday that they are defined only by their bodies? The objectivation of one young girl in a Turkish village is really no different from the objectivation of others worldwide (true, the kind of extreme physical violence - and the reality of so-called "honor" killings - are not typical worldwide, but they ARE just other examples of sexism, albeit much more brutal).
The character of Irfan, the professor,interested me as an example of someone fed up with a materialistic (and un-REAL) lifestyle, and in his case, that experience also is not strictly a Turkish one. His decision at the end of the novel to give up his materialistic (and phony) lifestyle, and also to give up on his vague, far-fetched dream of "freedom" is a decision which makes him one of the most outstandingly human characters I've met in any novel, anywhere.
Cemal interested me less than the other 2, since I cannot really relate to him. However, I feel he's a good example of someone who's bought a line of crap hook-line-and-sinker and ends up paying the price for it (I'm not sure what lessons he's learned at the end, he mostly just seems confused). I do have empathy for him as someone who's been forced to participate in violence (war and the intended honor killing) and can only imagine what it must be like to raised to be so cold and viscious.
Characterization aside, I found this to be an engaging and excellent story, and would trip over myself getting into the bookstore to read anything else by this fabulous author.
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