The psychological consequences of the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire are revealed in the second novel from Defne Suman, author of The Silence of Scheherazade.
Defne Suman was born in Istanbul and grew up on Buyukada. She gained a Masters in sociology from the Bosphorus University, then worked as a teacher in Thailand and Laos where she studied Far Eastern philosophy and mystic disciplines. She later continued her studies in Oregon, USA and now lives in Athens with her husband. Her English language debut The Silence of Scheherazade was published by Head of Zeus in 2021. Find out more: defnesuman.com; @defnesuman. Betsy Goeksel is an American teacher and translator who has lived in Turkey since the 1960s. Her translations include The Hate Trap by Haluk Sahin and The Silence of Scheherazade by Defne Suman, as well as several books on art and architecture for the Istanbul Municipality.
In At the Breakfast Table, Defne Suman, one of Turkey's most
popular writers, writes about family secrets, people's inner
problems, love and the losses through life. Suman builds on Eastern
philosophy and yoga, among other things, when she is to shed light
on the book's great secret -- Anne Buset Vassbotn (Norway)
It is very easy for Greek readers to love Suman, to identify with
her heroes, to look for their own ancestral memories among the
memories of her heroes. But the most important thing about a novel
is that it hides a beautiful story, and the author knows how to
tell it -- Erika Athanasiou (Greece)
The image of the Prinkipo island with its carriages, bicycles, the
blue sea that surrounds it, its blooming flowers and purple
bougainvillea, give a brilliant tone to the novel. The historical
touch offers realism and mystery * Lefki Sarantinou (Greece) *
At the Breakfast Table is an excellent novel in the
footsteps of modern Turkish literature as defined by Livaneli and
Pamuk. It is a well-written book which reminds us that history is
not necessarily what we learn in school -- Angelos Koutsoukis
(Greece)
Suman listens and understands a wounded geography with an open
heart - a trait that is rarely found among Turkish intellectuals.
She challenges the common belief and narrates beautifully -- Derya
Beyatli, Yeni Duzen Newspaper (Turkey)
In At the Breakfast Table Suman continues to explore the
themes and tropes that prevail in her previous novels, presenting
them to the reader in new dimensions... Altogether, these premises
establish a narrative network of signification, through which the
philosophical core of Suman's work can be discerned' -- UElker
Goekberk, Reed College
Defne Suman brings lightness to the hearts of her readers as the
characters of At the Breakfast Table reclaim their identity
and freedom from the burden of family secrets and the false
pretense of living as if no sin has been committed in this land --
Yaprak Cetinkaya, Pozitif Magazine (Turkey)
Captivates readers with its plot but engages them on a deeper level
with its historic and psychological detail * Asymtote Journal *
A nuanced, beautifully paced novel, featuring an attentively drawn
cast of characters and an immersive sense of place * The Age *
Cleverly done... The story is set on a beautiful holiday island
whose ambience is expertly conveyed * Historical Novel Society *
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