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Home > Translation > The World Bookshelf > Books > Women Who Blow on Knots

Women Who Blow on Knots

A phenomenon in Turkey with more than 120,000 copies sold, Women who Blow on Knots chronicles a voyage reaching from Tunisia to Lebanon, taken by three young women and septuagenarian Madam Lilla. Although the three young women embark on the road for different reasons – for each holds a dark secret – it is only at the journey’s point of no return that Lilla’s own murderous motivations for the trip become clear…Unique and controversial in its country of origin for its political rhetoric and strong, atypically Muslim female characters, Temelkuran weaves an empowering tale that challenges us to ponder not only the social questions of politics, religion and women in the Middle East, but also the universal bonds of sister- and motherhood.Ultimately, the novel begs the reader to mediate on the greatest problem women face today – can the power we hold make us happy, and how?

Author

Ece Temelkuran

Ece Temelkuran

Books

Women Who Blow on Knots

Ece Temelkuran is one of the Turkey’s best known novelists and political commentators. She has lived in several countries such as Lebanon and Tunisia to write her novels. Her investigative journalism books broach subjects that are highly controversial in Turkey, such as the Kurdish and Armenian issues and freedom of expression. She was a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford Saint Anthony’s College, and has given the “Freedom Lecture” as a guest of Amnesty International and Prince Claus Foundation.

Translator

Alexander Dawe

Alexander Dawe

Books

Women Who Blow on Knots

Alexander Dawe studied French and Classical Guitar Performance at Oberlin College and Conservatory. He has translated several contemporary Turkish novels, including Endgame by Ahmet Altan. In collaboration with Maureen Freely, he has translated A Useless Man by Sait Faik Abasiyanik, The Time Regulation Institute by Ahmet Hamdi Tanipar and The Madonna in a Fur Coat by Sabahattin Ali. In 2010, he received a PEN/Heim Translation Fund grant to translate the short stories of Ahmet Hamdi Tanpinar. He lives and works in Turkey, on the Prince Islands Archipelago, in the sea of Marmara near Istanbul.

Published by

Parthian Books, 2017
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A phenomenon in Turkey with more than 120,000 copies sold, Women who Blow on Knots chronicles a voyage reaching from Tunisia to Lebanon, taken by three young women and septuagenarian Madam Lilla. Although the three young women embark on the road for different reasons – for each holds a dark secret – it is only at the journey’s point of no return that Lilla’s own murderous motivations for the trip become clear…Unique and controversial in its country of origin for its political rhetoric and strong, atypically Muslim female characters, Temelkuran weaves an empowering tale that challenges us to ponder not only the social questions of politics, religion and women in the Middle East, but also the universal bonds of sister- and motherhood.Ultimately, the novel begs the reader to mediate on the greatest problem women face today – can the power we hold make us happy, and how?

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