Snow By Orhan Pamuk

Tracing the past that he missed after years of being a political exile in a foreign land, Ka went to Kars - one of the poorest cities in Turkey. Not only armed with “want to remember”, but he also intends to bring his idol woman to Frankfurt, Germany, to become his wife. When he is no longer young, Ka is indeed cuddling with a future mate. He remembered Ipek, whom he had heard as a widow. Dan Ipek, together with her father and younger siblings, currently live in Kars.

Arriving in Kars, it turns out that the journey is not just about Ipek or her childhood, other big things happen. Veiled girls commit suicide, unemployment is rampant until power conflicts haunt the city. Armed with his assignment letter, Ka covered the families involved, he followed the paths that had been taken by young girls who had decided to end their lives. It wasn’t easy, Ka began to realize that his activities were being followed, his phone conversations were tapped, and he became the butt of various parties.

Ka, who at the beginning of the story is described as a manly, handsome, and gentlemen, seems even more naïve when the story begins. His naivety revolves around finding out why the girls commit suicide, his intention to reconcile various parties, even his ambition to be with Ipek. It’s quite difficult for me to like Ka, as the main character. However, the depiction of Kars’ social, economic, and political circumstances is vivid and lively here. Sad, but also touching with such a neat narrative. There are also melancholy notes that we can feel in the depiction of the characters. Each character seems to carry their melodies.

“Snow” is an important book. The book, which is more than 400 pages thick, tells about social, economic, and political life amidst the conflict of secularism and religion in Turkey - the relevance of which is still felt today.

“Snow” is also a book that offers a deep depiction of art, humanity, and the search for God.