Romancı
(The Novelist)
A 17-year-old high school student from Sivas, who suddenly finds herself in Istanbul: Ferit… A wealthy pasha’s granddaughter who lives in an elderly nursing home overlooking the Bosphorus in Istanbul: Süreyya Hanım…
Lured by Ferit’s innocence, curiosity and love, Süreyya Hanım slowly opens up and begins to tell her about a passionate life filled with renowned authors and poets in Turkish literature—Sait Faik, Orhan Veli, and Attilâ İlhan.
In turn, Ferit becomes increasingly drawn to literature, intrigued in particular by the story of Feride in the famed Turkish novel titled Çalıkuşu (The Wren). At last, she sheds her identity as Ferit and becomes Feride.
The Novelist is a meticulously written, sensitive, and surprising first novel.
Book Reviews
“İpek S. Burnett puts her signature under an extraordinary work by using influential names of Turkish literature in her novel, The Novelist. While doing so, her prose is reminiscent of the other masters she mentions in the story, especially Sait Faik. In a way, Burnett writes the story of Turkish literature. With its masterful prose, impressive narration and setup, The Novelist is a novel you will enjoy.” — Hürriyet
“The Novelist's mastery lies in its ability to preserve its own reality despite the story's so many ‘real-life’ heroes.” — Radikal
“In The Novelist, a story about Ferit's journey toward becoming Feride, the author weaves literature and its heroes in her narrative with nuance, while sustaining the mystery up to the very last page.” — Cumhuriyet
“With her first novel, The Novelist, İpek S. Burnett steps forth as an impressive writer.” — Akşam