5 December 2006
"I enjoyed [your book] very
much." --American
student at Middle East Technical University, Ankara
"I would be somewhat
cautious about traveling alone in the countryside and making casual
conversation because to Turkish men, it's not so casual and there's the
usual view that all Western women are whores. Some of the stories in
[Tales from
the Expat Harem] discuss this (just a general good read with essays
by women about their experiences in Turkey)."
--Naomism, ChickLit Forum
15 November 2006
"At the airport on the way
out of Istanbul I picked up a copy of a book called Tales from the
Expat Harem-Foreign Women in Modern Turkey. As I live, breathe,
write and talk about expat issues, then I had to buy it. A quick flick
through the book seems that some of the stories in there could be
written about adapting to any city, culture shock, starting a new life
etc. Yet some stories on living in Turkey look very different indeed. I
am intrigued, will read it and report back."
--The Perpetual Expatriate
Blog by expat in Switzerland
27 November 2006
"I thought your book was
superb, by the way. It had me desperate to visit istanbul. I was very
impressed, and it takes a lot to impress me."
--British book reviewer in
the Netherlands
"I enjoyed reading your
book. I can see why it has done well. The stories are well written
and interesting, and I think the concept taps into a psychological
desire of people to know how they are viewed. That makes it
interesting for Turks, and then obviously expats and travelers like
to either know what they have in store for them, or have a shared
experience with the storyteller.
I could personally
relate to [Jennifer Gökmen's] story. I think there is something
powerful about being in positions that make us grow, and when that's
not happening my own mood downgrades quickly. It's amazing how even
a little thing like ordering food or getting a bottle of water on
your own can impact your mood."
--John Strelecky,
international bestselling author of
The Why Cafe
25 November 2006
"Firstly, enjoyed your book.
With 2 small children it took nearly a year to finish ; )) but enjoyed
it. Thanks."
–-American married to a Turk, living in Istanbul
17 November 2006
Your book directed me to the
Sarnic Oteli in Istanbul, where I stayed for a week this past summer.
Good value, great staff."
--Malcom Pfunder, Turkish
Peace Corps alumnus
13 November 2006
"The book contains all kind
of wonderful stories which the foreign ( i.e. non-Turkish) brides
experienced in Turkey. It is so very recognizable for us, Foreign Wives
Ankara! I highly recommend you to read it (if you did not do already
so!)" –-Wendy Serter,
Dutch woman in Ankara married to a Turk
13 November 2006
"I totally enjoyed the book
and recommend it to many friends. Anymore books in the works?"
--A Turkish woman in New York City
12 November 2006
"I've been reading your book
with great pleasure during my trips in the Turkey this autumn, and it's
been passed around and enjoyed by many of our guests on our gulets."
–British cultural
tour operator
Peter Sommer
11 November 2006
"I also purchased your book
prior to moving to Turkey this summer, which was a great read and
thoroughly entertaining!"
–-Simone Le Blanc, Canadian
newly arrived in Istanbul
"Sevgili Anastasia, Jennifer
le beraber hazirladiginiz TURKCE SEVMEK kitabinizla Turklerin ve
Turkiyenin dunya capinda anlasilmasini yaptiginiz katki nedeniyle
odullendirildiginizi bildirdiginiz e mail'inizi aldim. Sizleri gonulden
kutlarim.K itabinizi ben ve esim severek okumustuk. Bazi dostlarimiza da
onermistik. Sizin bu kitabiniz bizim icin de nasil gorundugumuzun
ogretisi oldu."--Betul
Aykan, President TAIWCCS
8 November 2006
"I have visited Istanbul
quite a few times since my first visit in 1974 with my wife and five
children. We arrived by train, hot bothered and dirty after a 5 day
journey. I quickly acquired that bug that defines a Turkophile which is
difficult to define but easy to recognize! Since then, I have arrived by
car, taxi and THY ( a Turkish airline that did NOT serve ayran: how bad
is that?) but have always thought that the best way would be by
passenger liner. [Natalie Baker’s] essay on the magic of life on the
water rang many bells in my head and I felt a great empathy with this
shy lady in such a kaleidoscopic environment. I congratulate [her] on
conveying the atmosphere so accurately and warmly. Many thanks for such
an evocative essay."
--Tim Hadley, 30-year British Turkophile
7
November 2006
"I lived in Istanbul for a year, teaching in a Turkish school, a couple
of decades ago. This naturally prompted an interest in Turkish life, and
so I picked up this volume with interest. While there are tidbits about
Turkish life [endless drinking of tea; gracious hospitality; etc.], this
volume is less about Turkey than it is about self-discovery on the part
of the foreign women who contributed their experiences to this volume.
And that is valid -- while many people [non-travelers] believe that
expats do it for the excitement, for the opportunity to see sights,
living in a foreign environment is more about self-discovery: what about
what I believe/do is part of me and unchangeable, what is due to
societial restrictions; what am I willing to change, and what am I
adamant about holding onto. This is what these contributors write about.
The volume is well-written and edited. It is an easy read. Each chapter,
by a different contributor, stands independent from the others, so it is
easy to pick up and put down." --"disheveledprofessor",
from a review on Amazon
31 October 2006
"Just a note from an
Expat and reader of your delightful book. (I met you both at a book
reading in San Diego). I really enjoyed the book. I read it while
on holiday in Northern Cyprus this past summer. I enjoyed sharing
stories from the book with my mother-in-law. It prompted here to
recall stories from her past. Many of the traditions discussed in
the book are long gone in Cyprus.
My husband also read the
book. Being Turkish, his take on the book was slightly different.
He said reading it was like hearing a joke to which you know the
punch line. He knew the endings to most of the stories before he got
there. He did read it cover to cover and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Best wishes to you
both. I look forward to seeing new work from you both."
--Victoria Julio Kirtay
30 October 2006
"We are following your
accomplishments with great delight. The impact of what you are doing is huge
and is bigger than any initiative I am aware of, whether public or private."
--Sema Basol, Managing
Editor of the Dreaming in Turkish project to archive Turkish Women's
experiences in America
26 October 2006
"I've enjoyed reading
your book. Keep up the good work. I am looking forward to your next book!"
--A Turkish woman
in Los Angeles
25 October 2006
"The book is superb,I
read it last year and loved it.So many stories from so many people from
different walks of life,but all so true."
--Susan Elaine on MyMerhaba.com
"We enjoyed the book in English and we got a copy in Turkish just before we
left Istanbul two weeks ago."
--An American/Turkish couple
from Berkeley, California
"I am delighted that your book is doing so well. My daughter and I loved
it."
--An American woman in Rhode
Island
22 October 2006
"Congratulations! I got your
book yesterday afternoon at Barnes and Nobles. I started reading it there,
decided I must get the book and kept reading till 3:30 am. I teach Turkish
Art and Culture here at University of Richmond and I will definitely share
some of the stories with my students. I will also e-mail many friends today
for them to read your book... Please do not stop here… "
--A lecturer at the University
of Richmond, Virginia
20 October 2006
"Just bought another 2 copies of
Expat Harem. (I enjoyed it so much, that I'm giving the book as a gift to
friends in the States.)"
--A Turkish woman in Istanbul
17 October 2006
"I have enjoyed your book
Expat Harem tremendously. So have many people I know here in Ankara." --Betsy
Udink, wife of the Dutch Ambassador to Ankara
10 October 2006
"Loved the book."
-- An American magazine editor,
San Francisco, California
9 October 2006
"Dear Editors
Have just received my
[October] copy of
Mslexia and I’m amazed that I did
not hear about your anthology when I was living in Turkey. It looks
wonderful – well done! I would have loved to have contributed to it as I
was bursting with writing fever while I was there. I am a professional
writer and I continued my technical authoring... while I was living in
Cunda (Ayvalık) [northwestern Turkey] for four years...
I have so much more that I
want to write about Turkey after a life-changing four years... If you
plan any more collaborative ventures I would be very interested in
contributing...In the meantime, good luck with your own writing and I
look forward to seeing your next works in print."
--Jane Brotchie from England
4 October 2006
"I finished the Expat Harem
and feel so sad that it is over. I was so into the stories about the
families and was ready to hop on a plane and come to the baths [to] get skin
scrubbed off. I have a lot to say about the feelings that pervade all the
stories. What a great achievement to put that together! You made a book that
started me taking the bus to work just so I had some time to read a
story..." --An American
woman in New Jersey
October 2006
"Books Worth Picking Up: Tales From The Expat Harem"
--The Kingdom of Expat Wives blog
"To all travellers and
especially women, here is a great book that I highly recommend to all
wishing to travel to Turkey. There is always the same question posed 'single
female traveller' and this book will open your eyes, make you laugh and see
the riches of Turkey through others' eyes."
--Inside Turkey: Recommended Reading, Trip Advisor
29 September 2006
"I've just finished reading
Tales From The Expat Harem. It is 2 female expats who are living in
Turkey [who] have collected stories from several other female expats who
live (or have lived) in Turkey and their experiences. The book came [out]
one year ago, the authors [were] on a tour round US in April-May.
I got my copy (signed in US) when I was in Istanbul in August. My expat
friend started to read it when I was there and she was laughing out loud
several times. As an expat she recognised alot
of struggles others have gone through. All who [enjoy] travelling and other
cultures will like this book(I think;) )"
--Ruffen,
A Virtual Tourist
forum
6 September 2006
"I LOVED your book! It was
wonderful. I am contemplating a move from San Francisco to Turkey if I marry
my Turkish boyfriend and your book has been very helpful for giving me a
glimpse into some areas of life there. Are you planning another book
like this? ...I am addicted now."
--An American woman in California
4 September 2006
"When will Expat Harem be
available in Italian?!"
--An Italian reader
3 September 2006
"This is a fantastic book. I
left Turkey before it was available and had my sister bring it home to
Australia with her, as she was in Istanbul a few weeks after I left. Have
visited Turkey 3 times and I wish had been able to have it to read before my
first journey. I can relate to many of the stories and it's a good insight
to Turkey. Many thanks to the authors for such an enjoyable read."
--Lorrainec3, from MyMerhaba.com
forum
31 August 2006
"I have just finished reading
your wonderful Tales from the Expat Harem and as a result have booked a
flight to Istanbul from Australia this October."
--A former teacher/librarian
from Australia
21 August 2006
20 August 2006
"I've been reading a good book
called Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey.
As the title indicates, it's a collection of short stories by foreign women
who either live in Turkey or who visited it and for whom it made an
impression. It's really interesting to read about other women's experiences
and to note how incredibly positive they all are (no doubt a reflection of
the editors' choices)."
--Margie's Space (blog)
*Editor's note: to read
about the process of selecting and compiling Expat Harem, see this article
in Absolute
Write...
16 August 2006
"The stories clearly show the
passion and love that these women have for Turkey and the way the culture
has intertwined with their own, through self-discovery in a foreign land.
There are countless ways to experience a different country and no two people
can have the same experience. This collection includes several different
tales with many contrasting situations and experiences that weave together
to form an overall perception of what Turkey is really like from a female
viewpoint. If you're looking at Turkey as a place to visit, live or work,
and want an inside look at local culture and lifestyle, this book is highly
recommended."
--Aly Young's review on Rolf Potts' Vagabonding Blog
13 August 2006
"Hilarious and insightful short
stories about women's experiences traveling and living in Turkey."
--TurkishOdyssey Blogspot
7 August 2006
"If you've been to Turkey or are
interested in the culture, you'll cherish this book. Having just returned
from vacation in Turkey with the future desire of moving there as an expat,
I bought this book to learn what other women have experienced in their
adaption to this culture. Each short story is engaging, well-written, and
seemingly honest about various cultural experiences from an archeological
dig with local villagers to a first-time experience at a Turkish hamam. I
appreciate the open-mindedness and courage of these women who give us a
personal insight into their lives as foreign women in modern Turkey."
--M. Wyse in Chicago, Illinois
from her Amazon.com review
"I am savoring Expat Harem.
I love the stories." --An
American in California
6 August 2006
"Merhaba. I just finished
reading 'Tales from the Expat Harem' and it was excellent. I'd been
searching for just this kind of book since returning from Adana, Turkey
in December. Right away, I began laughing when I read about how 5 of the
6 workers were named Mehmet in 'Losing My Gender at Troy', and memories
kept coming back with every page that followed. After I finished
reading, I immediately thought, 'I hope there's more to come,' because I
could never tire of reading about and relating to the experiences of
others in Turkey. My husband was stationed at Incirlik [US Air Force
Base]... and it shocked me that so few Americans and other troops left
the immediate area to explore Turkey on their own. We took every
available opportunity to drive as far as possible with no predetermined
destination to experience the country (and inevitably, set ourselves up
for misadventure!). Reading about those who also put themselves out
there for the sake of understanding and becoming part of the culture was
encouraging as well as enlightening. Thanks again for giving me the
connection to Turkey that I been missing for the past 8 months and I
hope there's a Volume II!"
--Katey Clark, intrepid American traveler
5 August 2006
"...Tales from the Expat
Harem provides insignt on Turkish hospitality. Don't go to Turkey
without [this book]! Or buy [it] when you get there."
--An American from Arizona on
TripConnect.com
"I read Katherine Belliel's
story from Expat Harem and I felt a great sympathy for her. I
bougt the said book from amazon.com by chance, and much to my suprise, I
saw Wendy Fox's story in it. She was my teacher about three years ago at
Erciyes University, where I currently teach English."
--Göktuğ Yucel, Kayseri, Turkey
4 August 2006
"Tales from the Expat
Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey, edited by Anastasia Ashman
and Jennifer Eaton Gokmen, is in some ways the reverse of the familiar story
of migration from developing countries to wealthy nations. This charming
collection of essays shows how much the struggle to fit in and questions of
identity apply as much to Western women adapting to Turkey as they do to
Third World migrants coming to the West."
--Michelle Wucker's Amazon Blog
1 August 2006
"I recently finished reading
Expat Harem and enjoyed every moment of it. Congratulations for creating
such an inspiring and insightful book. It was a true pleasure. I am
currently working on a community project (for a class that I am taking) that
is a compilation of essays written by Turkish women living in the US about
their experiences here as immigrant women. I have never done a project like
this but feel that my passion for the subject will have to suffice!"
-– A Turkish woman living in
California past 30 years, corporate marketing executive
29 July 2006
"Just wanted to thank you all
for the wonderful stories that made me fall in love with Turkey al over
again and disclosed many facets of life and the Turkey's community that are
hidden for the common visitor. Interesting, educational, funny and
addictive, could not put the book down. Thank you and all the best..."
--Joanna van der Bolt,
The Netherlands
28 July 2006
"I have a feeling that
for some reason Turkey is calling me back. Wierd I know. It's like
I can't get enough of the place. Everything I read now or want to
know is about Turkey. I want to learn the language, I want to learn
more of the customs, I want to read about other people's experiences
visiting and living there. I can't get rid of this feeling. I
bought this book the other day called 'Tales from the Expat
Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey'. It is a collection of
experiences of 29 women who have lived or are living in Turkey,
either for work, school, or they have married Turkish men. I can't
put the book down."
--Gezbelle from Australia on her
Gigi's Adventures blog
27 July 2006
"It was so hard to leave
Turkey after 2-months of life-transforming experiences. I kept on
reading [Tales from the Expat Harem] and found it resonated
with me in so many areas of thoughts and feelings. It is rather
incredible to discovered other women experienced the similar
awakening and transformation in their relations with Turkey. It is
such a timely book, it allows me to digest the Turkey experience in
detail in private, long after the events and the people have faded
away. It makes the Turkish experience stick, all the lessons God
intends this experience to deliver, through reading and reflecting
on the book, I learn slowly. So thank you very much for that."
--An American
visitor to Turkey
26 July 2006
"I live in Kazakhstan and visit
Turkey annually. I also like to discover this country more and more. I've
been in a long term relationship with a Turk. Thus, I got fascinated with
your 'Expat Harem' book. I guess it could be interesting for Russian
speaking countries as well."
--A Kazakh woman
"I got the book this
morning! My son raced downstairs when a van drew up – it was 8am and the
school hols – thinking it was his ipod arriving. Doom for him but joy
for me. I was immediately tempted to dip in and read and landed on the
one about man-hunting and cheesecake. Wow! What a fabulous bit of
writing – pretty rare these days! So, well done. This might just have
to be my holiday read next week..."
–A British journalist in the
Netherlands
25 July 2006
"I was so pleased to be
able to meet both of you briefly when I attended your reading in New
York in May. I have been enjoying Tales from the Expat Harem...
Thank you for your wonderful book. I have read other anthologies of
travel writing by women, but yours is superior – so many heartfelt
and thoughtful and uninhibited essays by intelligent women. My best
wishes to you and your families."
--Brook Hobson in New
York
"I couldn't make it [to the
Expat Harem book readings in Seattle, Washington] due to personal
reasons, but had the chance to buy the book. It is delightful. I hope
more and more people read it. Thanks to all the women who contributed to
it." --Gökçe D.
Sezgin, President,
Turkish American Community Association of Washington
21 July 2006
"...wonderful collection of
stories..." --Susie
Dilbaz, from mymerhaba.com forum
12 July 2006
"This is what happens when you
occasionally 'google' your own name. You come upon yourself in something you
would never dream of. It was so interesting to listen to you both speak. The
book is delightful! I am making plans to visit Turkey in the very near
future!!" --Maura Geils
10 July 2006
"I picked up a copy of
[Expat Harem] a few weeks ago, and have been enjoying it one entry
at a time when I am at my lake cottage. Please tell [the editors]
how much I have enjoyed it (and it was autographed as well, neat!)
My daughter read
[Jennifer Gökmen's] entry and said 'that sounds like us, mom.' (I
think that is a compliment to how [Jennifer] captured the
mother/daughter thing)... It makes me wish I could see the places
they talk about."
--An American woman in
Michigan
8 July 2006
"I have just finished your book
(in one sitting) and I can't tell you how fine I think it is. I am also a
Turkey addict and will live in Istanbul part-time soon... there is something
in this book for everyone. It can be viewed as a travel book, a feminist
statement, a journey of self-discovery. Since it has all these elements it
is indeed a valuable property and should reach as many people as possible."
--An American planning to
relocate to Turkey
7 July 2006
"Your book is wonderful !! I
married a Turk and loved reading these captivating stories as I could
relate to many of the experiences, besides the fact that the writing is
so good." --
6 July 2006
"I recommend you ladies read
Tales from the Expat Harem. It's an excellent anthology which includes
the separate stories of the lives of women living in Turkey. There is one
section of the book with great stories about the Hamam."
--From a discussion on
Turkishclass.com forum
5 July 2006
"I am British and I lived
in Ankara and Istanbul between 1994 and 1999, when I worked as an
English teacher. Now I am back living in the UK. Currently enjoying my
copy of EH."
2 July 2006
"Well done. It's a wonderful
book and I'm not surprised in the least that universities will use it."
--Canadian author of
books on expatriatism
1 July 2006
"I so enjoyed reading the many
seperate stories of the lives of these women. I brought back memories to me
of my adventures as a young bride married to a Turkish doctor and living in
Turkey." --Mona Tekin,
Turkish Honorary Consul General for the state of Georgia
"I have heard that the may 25th
reading was great. I am very sorry that I missed it. I have read the book,
of course, and gave to couple of my friends, who are married to Turkish men
and we all loved it." --
Turkish woman in New York City, working at
Turkish American Business Forum
30 June 2006
"I spent a wonderful week,
slowly enjoying every morsel of each story 'entree' -- it was a delicious
week of tales! I'm loaning my copy to my sister in Boston, who is a
travel-nista herself. It's amazing what happens when stories and
experiences, seemingly ordinary, leap out and grab our attention. It binds
us all together by the way we smile and laugh when reading -- makes us think
of times when we faced problems and ended up laughing at our own
insecurities and how we overcame them. Ah, the human experience can be
scarily similar across many disparate boundaries and cultures. Thanks for
weaving together such a beautiful tapestry of life. There are some stories
that I read over and over again because they make me feel so good! Makes me
hope that you will create another such book in the future..." --Manager
of a non-governmental organization, Washington DC
29 June 2006
"Dear Jennifer and Anastasia,
It was so great meeting you both last month at your book reading in NY...
Boy, am I glad I came!
When I went home that night I started reading the book and couldn't put it
down. It was funny, sad, inspiring, thought-provoking, exciting, and it
made me really really nostalgic! It was a terrific read... every story had
me hooked, and for the first time in a long time I was able to visualize
living in Turkey again and it helped me re-connect with my homeland. I
think you guys did a great job in capturing stories that not only will
inspire foreigners to want to come to Turkey, but also give Turks living
abroad a chance to remember why their country is such a special place.
Those of us who've made lives in other countries- far from Turkish culture-
sometimes forget the little things that make Turkey so great.
Also, as a woman I felt so empowered reading these stories from women who I
don't know but now feel such a kinship with. And I'm also really curious
about the other stories that are out there. I hope you guys consider doing
a Volume 2 of the book!
Once again, thank you, thank you, thank you.... I've recommended the book to
all my girlfriends, and I really applaud you for your hard work, and setting
an example to the rest of us who all have a duty in educating people about
Turkey and all it has to offer. Keep up the good work!"
--Isil Bagdadi, a Turkish
filmmaker in New York City
23 June 2006
"Tales from the Expat Harem -
Foreign Women in Modern Turkey is one of the best books I have read. As
a Turkish woman living in United States ever since I was 10 years old, I
could so identify with some of the ladies in the book and their experiences
in Turkey. For me, it was such a joy to read the book, at times I could
not stop laughing at the things they went through, be it with their
mothers-in-law or with the differences in the Turkish culture. I now live in
Raleigh, North Carolina but right now I am on vacation in Istanbul. About
couple of months ago, I met one of the [Expat Harem contributors] Susan Holm
in
Raleigh, actually she came to my house and we had wonderful talk about the
book, and about Turkey...
Best wishes, and thank you again for a wonderful book."
--A Turkish woman in North Carolina
20 June 2006
"I found that reading a chapter
in a book published last year, Tales from The Expat Harem: Foreign Women
in Modern Turkey (edited by Anastasia Ashman and Jennifer Gokmen),
proved very helpful in understanding the ritual of the bath. Chapter 3 is
entitled Hamam. I hope you can read the entire book which is truly eye
opening and fascinating."
--Alikatt from San Francisco on Trip Advisor's forum
19 June 2006
"I finally got a chance to read
your book and I love it. It's not only great to read a book that talks about
Turkey and Turkish culture but also I believe it's well written. Kudos to
you, in my opinion you did a great job selecting and editing stories. I
personally want to thank you for your contribution to represent Turkish
culture and identity. Over the years I've been in US, I faced a lot of
curious questions about Turkey and Turkish culture. Now, we have a good book
which is put together by people who experienced Turkey as an Expat. I
foresee that I will be giving many copies your book as a present."
--A Turkish graduate student at
University of California Irvine
"I loved your book. I think you
got a great collection of diverse stories which combined give this
not-in-the-know reader a lot to consider and chew on. I have to say that
prior to your experience and reading your book, sadly the only stories that
have resonated about Turkey for me were the ones told by friends or
acquaintances who had nasty run-ins... with Turkish men while traveling in
Turkey. Anyhow, I found that I was much more drawn to the stories about
women who were speaking about their recent experiences ([Anastasia's],
Jennifer's, Katherine Belliel's), related very much to the Maria Orhon story
and cheered at the end of Rhonda Vander Sluis' story. I hope the book is a
huge success and helps to ignite other bigger book deals for [Anastasia] and
Jennifer." --A television producer
in New York
17 June 2006
"Tales from the Expat Harem is a
compelling read for everyone who wants to learn more about Turkey, its
people, traditions and culture. This book will give every reader a powerful
insight into this magical land. Those who have never been there will want
to visit. Those who have traveled to Turkey will find their fond memories
refreshed.
[Expat Harem contributor] Maria Orhan presented me with a copy during a
dinner cruise on the Bosphorus. This was my first visit back to Turkey in
forty years, and the tales in the book reaffirmed my deep affection for this
wonderful country and its people.
Mashallah to all 29 of you who had the courage to write your stories, and to
Anastasia and Jennifer for compiling the anthology!
I will be giving a copy of Expat
to my mother, who will enjoy it immensely!"
--Anita Donohoe, a Californian
who lived in Ankara as a Foreign Service Brat from 1959-1966 and attended
the same [Department of Defense Dependents'] school from which Maria
graduated
14 June 2006
"The book is fantastic and I
recommend it to ALL of my friends."
--An American in Washington
DC
"I completely enjoyed your
book. My daughter got her masters degree from a college in Istanbul and
married a man from Cyprus. She bought the book for me. A good choice."
--An American in
California
10 June 2006
"The buzz in
Antigone's
was that the [May 1st Expat Harem] event was well attended, and I was
told that I was getting the last copy they had in stock! My wife and I,
who both lived several years in Turkey, are quite impressed with the
stories, the range of experiences, the quality of the editing. I hope
the book is selling well in Turkey and elsewhere."
-- An English instructor at
University of Arizona, Tucson
9 June 2006
"I want to let you know that I'm
thoroughly enjoying the book and am halfway through. Not bad
for someone who hasn't had time to read a newspaper, see a movie in a
theater, let alone
read a book in the past year! The stories so far are relatable voices for me
-- right up my
alley. I was especially moved by Jennifer's story. Mother-daughter
travels, that always strikes
a chord in me." --A New
York television producer
8 June 2006
"I have your wonderful book
and am enjoying the stories. I've read about half of the stories...
Congratulations on a fine job!"
--Lydia Ruyle, organizer of
Goddess Conversations
conference
7 June 2006
"I just got your book from
Amazon yesterday, and I stayed up til about 1am reading. I think it is
wonderfully written and edited - you can tell the stories really flow,
although I am not reading in order.
So far my favorite stories are
Haze
and
Tying the Knot
- we didn't have a Turkish
wedding, but _____ was married to a Turkish man and they also had a very
elaborate wedding... so I chuckled all the way through - the difference is,
unlike Anastsia, [she] really didn't want anything elaborate.
I also loved Cherry
Pie, because I
understand that the older generation finds it unusual for men to cook well.
When [my wife's] grandmother came to visit us in NYC, she was shocked not
only that I cooked dinner, but that it tasted good and I cleared the table
after the meal. As a 70 yr old woman from Bursa, she kept commenting to her
daughter (my wife's Mom) that her husband of 54 years had never served her a
meal in her life!" --An
American with a Turkish wife in New York City
"I really enjoyed your
book, and have bought another copy for a friend of mine, which I want to
give to her at the end of June. She has been living abroad in Ukraine for a
year now, and is planning on staying for at least a couple more. While her
context is different, I am sure that she will be able to relate to - or at
least feel connected with - many of the women in the book."
--An '02 Bryn Mawr alumna in New
Jersey
31 May 2006
"Dear Jennifer and Anastasia,
On May 19th Friday, we met at the book signing (Borders). I was there with
my wife __ and our new born son __. We [drove far] that
night, especially after a workday with a new born baby, but it was well
worth it. We really enjoyed the speech. It was interesting to listen Turkey
from "expat harem" members. It was so important not to miss this
opportunity because we would like to move to Turkey one day (I hope it is very soon)...But
I [always wonder] if she would be okay in the long term, so I always
wanted to talk to someone who is not Turkish but [who is living] in Turkey (as many
as possible to get more views)...I always worry that once the "honeymoon" is
over, [whether] she would kind of say, well, I kind of wish we [hadn't]…But
sounds like so many spouses are doing just fine.
[My wife] finished reading your book the next day and she really liked it.
Parts of it we read together... We thought it was very realistic and had
many different views. Some of our friends thought the same way with us and
some thought some stories were not very positive for Turkey. So we have been
discussing with friends the stories...Regardless of the discussions, now we know more about
[living] in Turkey from
the stories in your book. What a book, just in time!
We bought two books, one for our library and the other one is for people who
want to know more about Turkey, kind of reference book. So we are thinking
to use your book to introduce Turkey to people who ask about Turkey...
In the mean time, I wish you the best with your future projects.
Turkey is very lucky to have friends like you."
--A Turk with an American wife
(and new son!) in Rochester, Michigan
30 May 2006
"I have almost finished reading
[Tales from the Expat Harem] and it is a great book with an insight into
turkish culture, food, and the freindliness of the Turkish people. I highly
recommend it for anyone especially women wishing to travel to Turkey. It
answers a lot of frequently asked questions!!!!! As for myself I can relate
to many of the stories."
--Lemon Lady, Istanbul Expert on
TripAdvisor.com
"I also recommend reading
Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey. The book
comprises of tales of 29 women who have gone to Turkey and 'found'
themselves while being enveloped by its people's warmth and and complexity
at the same time. The stories are heart-warming and endearing. You will
never look at Turkey in the same way after reading this book. The English
version of the one published for the residents of Turkey has a few more
stories than the US-market version.
The authors/editors were here
two weeks ago on their North America tour. They are fabulous!"
--Alikatt, on TripAdvisor.com
24 May 2006
"I enjoyed visiting with you and
experiencing your exciting presentation of you new book. The book is so
amazing. I truly wish to visit this wonderful country you have presented to
your readers. I am so honored to know you both. I know you will be very
successful in your future projects."
--An American artist after our
presentation at Borders bookstore in Brighton, MI
22 May 2006
"I just finished reading
Tales from the Expat Harem and wanted to let you know how much I
enjoyed it. Although I saw a lot of the country and had a wonderful
three years in Istanbul, your book reminded me of how much more there is
to see and learn. It reminded me of how frustrating it was to have my
housekeeper following me around with socks lest I get a weird stomach
ailment, and how our hot and sweaty movers wouldn't let us open the
windows to get a cool cross-breeze. That said, I had no idea about the
lead ceremony thing (or the pubic hair thing, but that's an entirely
different subject!). It also made me very thankful not to have a
Turkish mother-in-law!
I enjoyed all of the
stories. Katherine Belliel's story made me cry and Trici Venola's made
me laugh out loud. Most of the them reminded me of an experience that
I'd had in Turkey or with Turkish hospitality, and made me miss Turkey
even more.
It's a great book. Thanks!"
– former employee US
consulate in Istanbul , now in Washington DC
21 May 2006
"Wonderfully vivid descriptions
of life in modern Turkey. I'm a guy who has never set foot there so I had
very little familiarity with the culture there. The various essays really
give you a good sense of what it must be like for [foreign] women living
there, and the diversity but commonality of experiences they share. Some
essays are better than others, of course, but each of the writers has
something to say." --A
reader review on amazon.com
13 May 2006
"My husband and I really
enjoyed attending the book discussion at the Ferry Building [Book
Passage, San Francisco]. It was great to see you and Jennifer again –
brought back so many memories and inspired me to get back to writing my
own stories.
Congratulations to you and
Jennifer once again on a marvelous accomplishment. I’m looking forward
to the next book in the series."
– American writer who lived
in Istanbul for 2 years, now in San Francisco Bay Area
9 May 2006
"I'd like to thank you for your
book, much of which I was able to identify with as a former expat myself,
and much of which provided new insights, since there are many things that,
as a man in Turkey, I never had to deal with."
--An American man in Tucson,
Arizona who worked in Turkey for 9 years
5 May 2006
"I feel like you wrote this book
for me personally. I have become obsessed with Turkey and my friends who
haven't been there don't understand. I come home from my trips there so
excited to share my experience, but there's no one in my circle who can
relate. I was thrilled to read your book and realize there are people out
there who feel the same as I do."
--An American woman in Del Mar,
California, French teacher and frequent visitor to Turkey
3 May 2006
"When I bought the book last
week, I immediately read the book from cover to cover. As a novelist
myself, I can honestly say this is the best written, most insightful
look at Turkish culture through the eyes of foreigners who live there I
have ever come across... Every one of [the tales] is either hilarious or
touching, and all are extremely positive about Turkey! Finally, there
is a book that can be read by Turks and Americans that presents the
wonderful, energizing culture of Turkey in a way that should make all
Turks and Turkophiles (like me!) proud...It is really the finest work I
have seen on Turkey in a long time. It touched me deeply as I read
about the love foreigners have for Turkey. I too have this same respect
and admiration for [this] country..."
--Jeni Grossman, founder of
Little Peaces
28 April 2006
"As a German American Jew I came
to this book with apprehensions. But it quickly pulled me in and I
found myself staying up til 6 a.m. this morning to finish it. "
--An American man in Dayton, Ohio, bookseller
"Great book and excellent
reading. I recommend this book to all women travelling to Turkey....and
especially those of us married to Turks. Some of these stories are funny and
also heartbreaking. I can relate to many stories in this book and it makes
me feel that 'Yes, I´m not the only one'."
--Carrie, from
mymerhaba.com
forum
"Even though I have spoken
briefly with you at Books & Co earlier this evening, I thought I would
drop a line to give you my compliments again. I am
the Turkish woman who sat silently and came up to you at the end and
told you that I have read your book already and that I have been
following your success through different Turkish/American internet
newsgroups.
I thought "Expat Harem" was a wonderful book, presenting so many
facets of Turkish life in an honest, truthful way. What a collection
of interesting stories....intriguing, illuminating....What a brilliant
idea you had of conceiving and putting together this book ! And what a
(deserved) success story... You have done a great service to my
country and for that I am thankful to you both.
Occasionally I still get homesick. The romance of Istanbul, my
youthful memories.... I just get misty eyed and start googling Istanbul
pictures, read "My Merhaba",etc . Tonight, listening to you ladies made
those feelings rise to the surface again. I wanted to return home, be in a
boat cruising Bosphorus and walk around Moda, where I spent my
childhood and youth.
I would come again to chat with you on the 25th in NY, but I
will narrowly miss your appearance for the Moon and Stars Project. Both
of you seemed like such lovely women, so real and warm ...... it just
felt good to hear some positive stuff for a change about Turkey rather
than all the stereotypical falsehoods.
It's been a pleasure meeting both of you. I wish you continued success
with the book tour and all your future literary pursuits. You have
accomplished something great but your friendly, charming personalities
will also help in gaining you countless friends and admirers."
-- A Juilliard-trained Turkish pianist married to an American in Dayton,
Ohio, living in USA for 35 years
26 April 2006
"Thank you both for coming to
PAI to speak with us about 'Tales from the Expat Harem' (Mon 4/24). I have
started reading the book and am having a hard time putting it down! I'm
finding pieces of my own experience with [my Turkish partner] within the
chapters and each page makes me anxious to return to Istanbul."
--An American
international affairs student in Washington DC
25 April 2006
"I finished your book about two
weeks ago…AMAZING! It took me only 2 days to finish—I couldn’t put it down!
I really look forward to meeting you and Anastasia at the book signing on
the 26th. Again, the book was just FANTASTIC!!!! Tebrikler size!"
--An American woman in
Washington DC, working for the Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's
Association (TUSIAD)
24 April 2006
"The one theme I took away from
all these articles is the 'hospitality' that this country offers all who
visit. Even in the deepest part of the southeast - the hospitality was rich
and genuine. There's something here that I can not get my arms around BUT
it's positive and it's warm; you can not help but fall in love with the
people who live in and represent Turkey.
Thank you so much for reinforcing what I already feel and know! NO ONE
should miss this fine work."
--American man living in
Southeastern Turkey, from his review on Amazon
19 April 2006
"I LOVED your book"
--American woman in New York
City, married to a Turk
"Thank *you* for having the reading! It was very educational and
entertaining, and of course fun to meet the co-editors in charge. Good luck
with the rest of the tour!"
--An attendee of the reading in Providence, Rhode Island
15 April 2006
"This is a magnificent gift. In
putting together this
collection, you were able to put together a view of Turkey that no one
person holds alone." --An
American woman at the
Books On The Square reading in Providence,
RI
13 April 2006
"I'm using this book to teach my
American-born children about their own culture. Hearing these kinds of
insights about Turkish culture from foreigners is much more compelling for
them than hearing it from me. This is a very special gift you have made and
on behalf of my country I thank you."
--A Turkish man in New York City
5 April 2006
"Dear Jennifer, kindly let me
know where we can purchase [the next book you write]. We so enjoy reading the Tales From The
Expat Harem. [Katherine Belliel’s] story 'Haze' touched my heart."
--An American reader and avid
traveler
4 April 2006
