Exercises in Fiction

In his new novel, (1) handled with the brilliance that is his hallmark, the renowned novelist (2) [Gökdemir İhsan] (3)-already the author of many masterpieces-has confined himself to staging only sharply drawn characters, moving within an atmosphere accessible to all, young and old alike. The plot centres on an encounter aboard a bus between the story's hero and a rather enigmatic man who picks a quarrel with the first person he sees. In the closing scene, we find this mysterious figure listening intently to the advice of a friend, a master of dandyism. The whole leaves a delightful impression, finely etched by novelist (2) [Gökdemir İhsan] (3) with uncommon felicity.Raymond Queneau, Exercices de Style (Gallimard, 1947), 38.[1] This is not a novel.[2] Gökdemir İhsan is not a novelist.[3] If and only if X = Gökdemir İhsan."Readers who genuinely love literature, who enjoy a game, and who are not afraid of a puzzle will take great pleasure in this book... All that remains for us is to thank Gökdemir İhsan for adding such a fine example of postmodern writing to our literature."- Ali Teoman, novelist, Radikal Kitap