A Strangeness in My Mind is an “Olympic-size narrative” formed by the
author by selecting bits and pieces from his repertory of extensive and meticulous
research and attaching them to persons and characters. Besides carrying certain
attributes of the impressionistic age, meaning the central qualities of the 19th-century
roman-fleuve, it possesses unique and innovative aspects. The author conducts this
narrative throughout the novel with different characters’ perspectives and internal
monologues. While a unique hero (named Mevlut) seemingly exists in the classical,
dramaturgical structure of introduction – development - conclusion, the main character,
as in every Pamuk novel (except Snow), is Istanbul. In this work, the 50-year “urban
transformation” of this old, devious and dynamic city is being told.
Since the author knows quite well the history and the centuries-long lore of the city he
inhabits, he shows utmost skill, in an extremely belletristic and touching context, at
recounting the devastation of such riches and treasures by these newly formed social
classes. The author deserves the honour of passing on this literary heritage to future
generations by tackling the city’s unrelenting problems: the creation of their own caste
system by the lumpenproletariat, its amalgamation to the political system, mafia
originating from illegal electricity distribution, land mafia, involvement of leftist
organizations and cults in these schemes and the finale of the novel depicting the
transformation of the “desparate” ex-slum-dwellers to skyscraper residents.
Keywords: A Strangesness in My Mind, Alawite- Sunni, Alienation in the novel,
Aziz Nesin, Boza selling, Boğaziçi Universty, Istanbul, Jacobean-Islamist, Kurd-
Turk, Lumpen Proleteria, Latife Tekin, Micro-sociological, Nobel Prize, Orhan
Kemal, Orhan Pamuk, Olympic novel, Snow, The Museum of Innocence, Turkish
novel, Urban transformation, Yaşar Kemal.
