Award-winning Turkish novelist Buket Uzuner (author of 鈥淭he Sound of Fishsteps鈥�) takes a unique angle on the 鈥渘ovel-as-city-chronicle鈥� concept when she makes the city of Istanbul itself her narrator. Telling the story from the city鈥檚 point of view allows Uzuner to keep both Istanbul鈥檚 history and its contemporary struggles front and center. Against the backdrop of the great city, protagonist Belgin returns to Istanbul after having spent years abroad in search of her true love, even as more minor characters 鈥� a maid, a businessman, and other Istanbullus from many strata of society 鈥� contribute their own stories to the city鈥檚 grand saga.
