| Birds Without Wings by Louis De Bernieres is
perhaps my favourite novel about this area. It's actually set in a
village near Fethiye, down where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean, but
many of the historical and social values hold true for the Didim region
too. It follows the fortunes of the villagers of Eskibahce, a typical
coastal village of ethnic Greeks, Armenians and Turks who have been
living together so long that their languages and cultures are blended
inseparably. As the Ottoman Empire comes crashing down, the decisions
of distant generals, diplomats, kings and lawmakers conspire to tear
apart friends and family and destroy the life that the villagers have
inherited from generations before. This book is particularly fascinating for anyone wanting to understand a little more about this region's history and traditions and how international relations helped to shape the Turkey we see today; De Bernieres has expertly blended history, culture, sadness and humour in this lovely story which is a must-read for visitors to Altinkum. |
| Teach Yourself Beginner's Turkish is written jointly by David and Asuman Celen-Pollard, a Turkish-British couple who have an excellent understanding of what it's like both communicating in Turkish as a foreigner, and what it's like as a Turk trying to understand a foreigner trying to speak the language! The authors use their two perspectives to prepare thorough lessons and exercises to help you understand how to use the language independently, as well as providing useful stock words and sentences to learn by heart. Maybe they should rename the book "Teach Yourself Turkish for Beginners" because you might well be a beginner when you start but you certainly won't be when you finish! Teach Yourself Beginner's Turkish starts with the very basics, but by the time you've finished, you will have covered not only meeting, greeting and ordering food in a restaurant, but also the grammar & structure of the Turkish language and all the concepts so alien to native English speakers: changing Turkish verbs and nouns according to tense and case; and matching up similar-sounding vowels to make words easier to pronounce. Comes with a CD of listening exercises and conversations to help you familiarise yourself with the sounds of the Turkish language. |
| A Handbook for Living in Turkey, by Pat Yale, is perhaps the most comprehensive and useful guide I've seen to help you through life as an expat in Turkey. Packed with useful information from how to register your utilities, through what to expect from a standard rental agreement to how to behave when invited to dinner at a Turkish friend's house, this book is like having a friendly and all-knowing aunt at your elbow, steering you through life in this exciting and different country. I'd thoroughly recommend it to anyone thinking of moving to Turkey or even those of us who already have! Chapters include: The Cost of Living; Friendship vs Hospitality; In Search of the Perfect Home; Potential Problems [when buying property]; Building Restoration Permits; Finding a Telephone Number; Tying the Knot; The Turkish Education System; Exporting Turkish Products; Getting into Debt; Food Substitutes [for favourites you can't buy in Turkey]; Specialist Medical Services; Do's & Don't's for Visitors; Importing a Car; Importing a Pet; Old People's Homes.... I could go on but there is so much in here that it's impossible to choose what to mention and what to let you discover for yourself! A truly handy read and worth every penny of the cover price. |
If you've ever been tempted to try a bit of Turkish cooking at home, then this is the book for you. The Sultan's Kitchen is written by a Turk, Ozcan Ozan, who was brought up in Izmir,   on the Aegean Coast not far from Altinkum. Ozan writes for an interested but inexperienced audience, explaining the themes and tastes typical to Turkish cuisine and tips on how to use some of the unfamiliar ingredients; how to match flavours and textures and choose which dishes to serve together; as well as providing beautiful and delicious recipes including pastries, seafood, soups and desserts. Ozan is the owner of Boston's most famous Turkish restaurant, also called The Sultan's Kitchen, and clearly delights in his work, describing each dish with enthusiasm, whether it be a complex main meal or a simple snack.This gem of a book comes very highly recommended by a friend of mine who has let me taste several delicious dishes made using the recipes inside, and is great for anyone who wants to learn to cook authentic Turkish cuisine at home, whether in Turkey, the UK or anywhere else. The Sultan's Kitchen passes the Turkish tastebud test as well, so I'm looking forward to trying out some of the dishes for myself as soon as my own copy comes through! |
