The Time of Mute Swans

November 1, 2017
In Turkey: The Insane and the Melancholy (2016), controversial Turkish journalist and novelist Temelkuran exposed her home country's struggle to accept democracy and modernism. With the same sense of optimism and frankness, Temelkuran's new novel follows two young friends in their unlikely plan to restore their war-torn city. It's 1980, and Ankara is on the verge of its second coup d'etat in less than a decade. As political tensions rise, citizens are beaten for disavowing the government, the homes of the poor are destroyed, and to get into a hospital, the injured must provide their own light bulbs. Born into a wealthy family in a safe neighborhood, eight-year-old Ayse is educated and carefree. By contrast, Ali lives in a slum, collects pieces of string for fun, and speaks so seldom that strangers believe he is mentally challenged. When a flock of swans settles in a prominent park, the two friends defy their social classes and attempt to free their city from bloodshed. Through their whimsical perspectives, Temelkuran reimagines one of Turkey's darkest times with hope for its future.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)