Bliss

"I loved this book so much that I sent a fan letter to the publisher, and demanded to be introduced to the author when I went to Istanbul. "Bliss" is fresh, original, and warm-hearted, the work of a cosmopolitan insider and multi-talented artist."
--Louis de Bernieres, author of "Corelli's Mandolin"
"Livaneli is an essential force in Turkey's musical, cultural and political scene."
--Orhan Pamuk, Nobel Prize Winner and author of "Snow"
"The intersecting destinies of the three heroes present a portrait of Turkey at once tender and compassionate. I am sure they will have a deep influence upon French readers just as they have conquered the hearts of more than a hundred thousand of your compatriots."
--President Jacques Chirac of France, in a letter to the author
"A gripping contemporary story that gets behind stereotypes of exotic Islam to reveal the diversity in individual people and the secrets and lies, cruelty and love, in family, friendship, and public life. This will make a terrific bookclub selection when it reaches paperback."
--"Booklist"
"Eye-opening and deeply moving--essential for anyone looking for decency in the world today."
--"Kirkus Reviews (starred)"
"A lyrical novel."
--"The Wall Street Journal"
"With lush scenes of Turkish life and nuanced depictions of the [characters'] inner lives. . . .a convergence of lost, likable souls."
--"Entertainment Weekly"
"Livaneli offers readers a fascinating look at the diversity of Turkey today in his American
debut."
--"Library Journal"
" "
"A compelling premise, set in a part of the world that many American readers are curious about. . . hard to put down"
--"The Cleveland Plain Dealer"
"A brutal rape and the subsequent death sentence on the defiled girl draws one into the disparate worlds of traditional and modern Turkey. This exciting, sensitively written novel educates and illuminates not only the plight of women