After 15 years, I am once again reading Selcuk Altun’s novel, “Yalnızlık Gittiğin Yoldan Gelir.” I still vividly remember the day I purchased this book at the Besiktas D&R bookshop. I was drawn to the title, and after reading the book, I was left in awe.
The novel tells the story of a Turkish man who studied in Europe and America but eventually returns to Istanbul, where he falls in love and becomes entangled in a family drama, among other things.
The most intriguing aspect of the book is how the main character shares his appreciation for various books, music, and artists, along with their works. Some notable names include Louise Gülick, Oktay Rifat, Raymond Carver (whom I stumbled upon and fell in love with three years ago), Paul Auster, Martin Amis, Fikret Mualla, Elias Canetti, Berlioz, Konstantin Kavafis, Pat Metheny, Avni Arbas, and William Saroyan (Saroyan was also a delightful discovery for me last year).
The book is brimming with a diverse intellectual life. Fifteen years ago, I remember wishing I could read all the books by the authors mentioned in this book and visit all the museums and places they cherished.
Now, fifteen years later, I find myself holding this book and a few others written by Altun. He has published seven more novels and a couple of collections since his first book, “Yalnızlık Gittiğin Yoldan Gelir.” His latest books have gained popularity even in the United States and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
Altun is an incredibly intriguing writer. He once promised himself that he would work only until the age of 50 and then devote his time to reading and writing if he could. He had a career in finance and held a high-level management position at one of Turkey’s leading banks.
Once again, I am thrilled to be reading his book and sharing my thoughts with you.