Artichokes and almonds
The Kismet Pension is with advance copy readers. I found some of these readers through a site designed especially for this. The others came from a post on one of our local Facebook pages. As the book is set here in Turkey, I thought it would be of interest to readers living here.
I remember when I first read some of the Number One Ladies Detective Agency series, I loved the fact that I recognised some of the places and customs from having visited my friend who lived in Botswana. But I also love reading books about places I have not visited, particularly if it gives me a glimpse into the landscape and culture. I hope readers of The Kismet Pension will enjoy a taste of Turkey, whether they have visited or not!
I have obtained ISBN numbers for the book – a step made more difficult by the fact that in Turkey, these are issued by the national library (you have to obtain them from the country in which you reside). In other countries you just pay for a bundle of numbers; here, it involved filling in a form with a lot of irrelevant information. Even that would have been alright, except the form would not accept the information I filled in. After about twenty unsuccessful attempts, it turned out that although ‘Amazon USA’ was an option under publisher, if you chose it the form would not work!
This sort of glitch is not uncommon here; my son once had to spend several days getting the paperwork changed on his twenty-year-old car because the powers that be had decided that it should be classified as a five-person vehicle, rather than a four-person one. At the time they can be maddening but I have to admit to rather enjoying the quirkiness of them – at least once the problem has been solved!
So, with my advance readers reading and my ISBN numbers ready, I intend to publish the book in early May. At the moment, as March turns into April, we are seeing a change not just in the weather and the arrival of the first tourists, but also some changes in the what is on offer in the local markets. Winter fair like beetroot and some of the wild greens out and artichokes are everywhere. In Turkey, they like to remove the choke and stuff them; delicious, but a lot of effort! It is also the season for çağla, which are almonds eaten unripe, while the nut still a tiny kernel. The outer flesh is crisp, slightly furry, and very sour and is eaten whole – often dipped in salt. Much sweeter and more palatable are the mulberries which are starting to appear. Locals cannot resist walking past a mulberry tree without stopping to pick and eat some of the fruit – a bit like us with blackberries. They even stain your hands and tongue a similar colour!
As usual, I have read and enjoyed a number of books this month. Here are just a couple:
By any other Name – Jodi Picoult
This is a wide-reaching novel that intertwines two stories to compare the prejudice against women – playwrights in particular – in the seventeenth century and in modern times. It suggests that a woman may have been the author of some of Shakespeare’s plays and sonnets. It’s a great read and certainly provides food for thought!
That Bonesetter Woman – Frances Quinn
Another book in which the main character is held back in her ambition by the fact that she is a woman. This one is set in the eighteenth century and focuses on Durie (Endurance – a great name!) who is desperate to follow in her father’s footsteps and become a bonesetter – something for which she shows a rare talent. Durie is a very likeable character, whose struggle and eventual happiness provide the focus of the book, but it also paints a fascinating picture of London at the time, including the menagerie at the Tower of London.
Happy reading!
Melanie