Years ago, I was put on trial for “insulting Turkishness” following the publication of my novel The Bastard of Istanbul. My book told the story of two families, one Turkish and one Armenian-American. The former, based in Istanbul and the latter, based in San Francisco. It was also a story about friendship, sisterhood, emotional connections across borders, and the power of empathy.
The Bastard of Istanbul was the first book l ever read of yours. It’s a wonderful book and I’ve since read all your books. When l heard that you were on trial for writing this book my heart went out to you, what kind of government treats a writer this way! Well one of my dear friends is of Armenian descent and l think is the memory keeper of her history so l am well informed about this. It’s terrible that countries have to erase a race of people. For what, power, land and money! We now see it happening in Gaza where another friend of mine comes from, it breaks my heart and l feel helpless and find it hard to find words for both these friends.
Your Fig Tree was my favourite character in The Island of Missing Trees so you see Elif you can use anything ( even a drop of water) to tell the story of different people. Thank you for doing so l love your books 🙏
I am so sorry you endured such vitriol and abuse in response to The Bastard of Istanbul. Of course it took a toll on you; one can tell oneself all day long that such attacks are not personal, but they are certainly meant that way. The first novel I wrote was a sort of outside/insider, fictionalized account based on the oral history my late, Armenian-American husband and I recorded in 1980 of his Armenian Genocide-survivor grandmother, woven in with other stories of surviving women in the extended family. While querying agents, I sent it to one who is Turkish and who shall remain nameless. I figured they'd either hate it on sight or be curious. They loved it, wanted to represent it and see it published — but they couldn't do so without huge risk to themselves and their family. But they did refer me to my now-agent — who tried for a year to find a home for that book without success, sadly. I suspect my not being Armenian myself didn't help. It's one reason why I've taken to addressing the issues that matter most to me through writing middle-grade fantasy (which has found a publisher, thank goodness). Not that my experience in any way compares to yours, but it has sure awakened me to how powerfully a nation can react against owning its own dark past — and that, of course, is playing out in America right now.
You truly have the ability to capture and put into words the subconsious feelings and thoughts that I am certain we all carry inside of us, but don't even know where to begin when it comes to understanding, let alone explain it. To me, your way of storytelling is absolutely magical. Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the action in the face of fear. Thank you for all that you do Elif ♡
Hello Elif, the first book i read of you was the island of missing trees, as i live on Cyprus for the last 35 years. The problem here is still very much alive as it was only 50 years ago. And it is not an open subject for discussion to most of the people here. Propaganda has done its job well. For me, eversince I decided to be above division, and my mind is open, i feel free, and I have visited the other part of the island many times and made really good friends there, and it made me realize that "to humanise is divine"!! We can only go forward by learning of each others mistakes and together open an new page for a peaceful future.
I had no idea you and your book were put on trial. And your characters—your beloveds—forced to account for themselves! I also love the irony that you DO write about flowers and trees, but not in a way Hallmark would recognize. Thank you for your insights on the Memory Keeper. I’m one for sure.
Thank you for writing beautiful, painful stories that help others to learn about tragic and difficult situations. I have learnt something from each of your books. Thank you for writing and for helping others to grow despite the immense personal cost...
Thanks for your vulnerability and honesty. As a Greek whose ancestors fled the 1922 massacre and who watched family flee Cyprus in 1974 we are always looking back. If only just to feel the past. The city will always pursue us. If we don’t know where we came from we don’t know where we are. If we don’t know where we are, we may not know where we are going. What is Home? Are we running to it? Are we running from it? Keep writing. We need you. 🙏❤️
What a wonderful, perfect essay with thoughts and ideas thrown toward us like leaves in the wind, to be looked at, examined , reexamined, and appreciated. Thank you!
So many are traumatised and fear so much they run like crazy, or, as you relate they attack the one who tells the story. Always remember how much your wonderful talent for bringing truths helps so many of us, we connect, we imagine and are brought to live with our own truths. The Island of Missing Trees was the first of your books I happened to read, thank you. And, looking at the stars helps too, we live in this world, may each of us make our way together.
I loved reading the Bastard of Istanbul while I was in Istanbul. It made me understand the city much more. As I was walking up and down the steep hills and broken cobblestones, I imagined your characters walking around as well. I’m really glad the book was finally published. It is so wonderfully written. I have read four of your books in a row now!
Literature is how we connect the heart and the mind, and connect 'us' and 'them'. This is beautifully said. It is also optimistic and inspiring: We as humankind would together build a better future. At the moment and with the state of affairs it is difficult to be optimistic.
We can all learn these lessons from you Elif, as the United States enters shaky times. The Bastard of Istanbul was the first book of yours that I read, as I see someone else has also mentioned. I knew that you had troubles over this novel, but I was uncertain as to exactly what they were. How awful and scary for you! I also loved your fig tree narrator. We had a fig tree at the house of friends in Monemvasia in Greece. Although I was not fortunate enough to have it speak to me, I think it might have tried. That tree was a highlight of our visit there, as showering outside under it was a special treat. I thank you for reminding me of this friend.
And every week, these gems of wisdom drop in to my inbox and help me make sense of this crazy world, which is no mean feat. Thank you, Elif.
The Bastard of Istanbul was the first book l ever read of yours. It’s a wonderful book and I’ve since read all your books. When l heard that you were on trial for writing this book my heart went out to you, what kind of government treats a writer this way! Well one of my dear friends is of Armenian descent and l think is the memory keeper of her history so l am well informed about this. It’s terrible that countries have to erase a race of people. For what, power, land and money! We now see it happening in Gaza where another friend of mine comes from, it breaks my heart and l feel helpless and find it hard to find words for both these friends.
Your Fig Tree was my favourite character in The Island of Missing Trees so you see Elif you can use anything ( even a drop of water) to tell the story of different people. Thank you for doing so l love your books 🙏
I am so sorry you endured such vitriol and abuse in response to The Bastard of Istanbul. Of course it took a toll on you; one can tell oneself all day long that such attacks are not personal, but they are certainly meant that way. The first novel I wrote was a sort of outside/insider, fictionalized account based on the oral history my late, Armenian-American husband and I recorded in 1980 of his Armenian Genocide-survivor grandmother, woven in with other stories of surviving women in the extended family. While querying agents, I sent it to one who is Turkish and who shall remain nameless. I figured they'd either hate it on sight or be curious. They loved it, wanted to represent it and see it published — but they couldn't do so without huge risk to themselves and their family. But they did refer me to my now-agent — who tried for a year to find a home for that book without success, sadly. I suspect my not being Armenian myself didn't help. It's one reason why I've taken to addressing the issues that matter most to me through writing middle-grade fantasy (which has found a publisher, thank goodness). Not that my experience in any way compares to yours, but it has sure awakened me to how powerfully a nation can react against owning its own dark past — and that, of course, is playing out in America right now.
The fig tree in The Island of Missing Trees may be one of my favorite fictional characters ever!
You truly have the ability to capture and put into words the subconsious feelings and thoughts that I am certain we all carry inside of us, but don't even know where to begin when it comes to understanding, let alone explain it. To me, your way of storytelling is absolutely magical. Bravery is not the absence of fear, but the action in the face of fear. Thank you for all that you do Elif ♡
Hello Elif, the first book i read of you was the island of missing trees, as i live on Cyprus for the last 35 years. The problem here is still very much alive as it was only 50 years ago. And it is not an open subject for discussion to most of the people here. Propaganda has done its job well. For me, eversince I decided to be above division, and my mind is open, i feel free, and I have visited the other part of the island many times and made really good friends there, and it made me realize that "to humanise is divine"!! We can only go forward by learning of each others mistakes and together open an new page for a peaceful future.
Keep strong!
Xxx
thank you for this - humanity extending a hand across the divide. Your heart is truly open and wide x
this is it
I had no idea you and your book were put on trial. And your characters—your beloveds—forced to account for themselves! I also love the irony that you DO write about flowers and trees, but not in a way Hallmark would recognize. Thank you for your insights on the Memory Keeper. I’m one for sure.
Thank you for writing beautiful, painful stories that help others to learn about tragic and difficult situations. I have learnt something from each of your books. Thank you for writing and for helping others to grow despite the immense personal cost...
Love the concept of memory keeping. Perhaps that's what I'm trying to do with my Curios from the Care Home here on Substack. What do you think?
Thanks for your vulnerability and honesty. As a Greek whose ancestors fled the 1922 massacre and who watched family flee Cyprus in 1974 we are always looking back. If only just to feel the past. The city will always pursue us. If we don’t know where we came from we don’t know where we are. If we don’t know where we are, we may not know where we are going. What is Home? Are we running to it? Are we running from it? Keep writing. We need you. 🙏❤️
I still don't know if I'm running from home or to it? The dilemma of the child of immigrants x
The city always pursues us…. Thank you. I’m living it to.
What a wonderful, perfect essay with thoughts and ideas thrown toward us like leaves in the wind, to be looked at, examined , reexamined, and appreciated. Thank you!
So many are traumatised and fear so much they run like crazy, or, as you relate they attack the one who tells the story. Always remember how much your wonderful talent for bringing truths helps so many of us, we connect, we imagine and are brought to live with our own truths. The Island of Missing Trees was the first of your books I happened to read, thank you. And, looking at the stars helps too, we live in this world, may each of us make our way together.
I loved reading the Bastard of Istanbul while I was in Istanbul. It made me understand the city much more. As I was walking up and down the steep hills and broken cobblestones, I imagined your characters walking around as well. I’m really glad the book was finally published. It is so wonderfully written. I have read four of your books in a row now!
Literature is how we connect the heart and the mind, and connect 'us' and 'them'. This is beautifully said. It is also optimistic and inspiring: We as humankind would together build a better future. At the moment and with the state of affairs it is difficult to be optimistic.
We can all learn these lessons from you Elif, as the United States enters shaky times. The Bastard of Istanbul was the first book of yours that I read, as I see someone else has also mentioned. I knew that you had troubles over this novel, but I was uncertain as to exactly what they were. How awful and scary for you! I also loved your fig tree narrator. We had a fig tree at the house of friends in Monemvasia in Greece. Although I was not fortunate enough to have it speak to me, I think it might have tried. That tree was a highlight of our visit there, as showering outside under it was a special treat. I thank you for reminding me of this friend.