Land of Lime

The news flash from the Nobel foundation says, this year’s winner for literature is Orhan Pamuk,

who in the quest for the melancholic soul of his native city has discovered new symbols for the clash and interlacing of cultures.

I began reading Orhan Pamuk less than two years ago. By the time I finished My Name is Red on a long plane ride, he had become one of my favorite writers. From the beginning, I was struck by the extraordinary felicity with which he wrote on history, cities (Istanbul in particular) and civilizational encounters. Snow and Istanbul are my personal favorites.
Pamuk’s prose is lyrical, incisive and offers a window into the soul of his characters - people, cities and cultures. His politics is uncompromising, when he speaks on the shameful episodes of Turkey’s past, especially the Armenian genocide. There is much to admire in him, as a writer and public presence.

Here is the AP report in the Washingtonpost. There is bound to be more commentary and praise for a deserving winner. Will update periodically and hopefully write a short appreciation this weekend.