Ayşegül Savaş is a contemporary Turkish-born writer known for her novels, essays, and short fiction. She has received attention for her lyrical and introspective prose, which often explores themes of identity, belonging, displacement, and the inner lives of characters within complex cultural and historical settings. Savaş has published two acclaimed novels:
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"Walking on the Ceiling" (2019): This novel follows the protagonist, Nunu, who moves from Istanbul to Paris and grapples with personal loss and memory, unraveling layers of her own story and family history. The book explores themes of grief, friendship, and the intersections of memory and place.
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"White on White" (2021): This novel centers on an unnamed narrator who moves to a European city to study Gothic art and becomes involved with an enigmatic painter named Agnes, who is preoccupied with themes of purity and whiteness in art. The novel examines the tension between surface appearances and deeper truths, exploring relationships, art, and intimacy.
- The Anthropologists (2024): Recently published, this novel follows a young couple as they create a life together in a foreign city, examining themes of home and cultural identity. You can find a review of this book here
Savaş’s work has appeared in prominent literary publications such as The Paris Review, The New Yorker, and Granta. Her writing often blends personal reflection with broader social and cultural observation, creating a unique voice that resonates with readers interested in nuanced, introspective narratives. Savaş’s novels are notable for their quiet intensity and philosophical depth, drawing comparisons to authors such as Rachel Cusk and W.G. Sebald.
Here a few quotes:
From "Walking on the Ceiling" (2019):
- “To belong nowhere and everywhere, that was something the world could give you if you were lucky enough to find it, if you were brave enough to hold onto it.”
- “Memory was not reliable, but it was the closest we had to the truth.”
From "White on White" (2021):
- “There is a purity in stillness, in the white between words, in the spaces that we leave unfilled. It is where possibility resides.”
- “Art can be a place for contemplation, not explanation.”
Here’s a closer look at themes and passages from Ayşegül Savaş's two main novels, Walking on the Ceiling and White on White:
Walking on the Ceiling (2019)
This novel centers on Nunu, a young woman from Istanbul who moves to Paris after her mother’s death, exploring her memories and self-identity in this new environment. The novel deals with themes of grief, memory, and the way that places impact our understanding of ourselves.
Key Themes and Notable Passages
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Memory and Place: Nunu’s reflections on Istanbul and Paris become lenses through which she processes her family relationships and personal history.
- “The city had made me into a person who felt she knew her own history.” Here, Nunu suggests how places shape our self-awareness and memories, bringing a nostalgic tone that reflects her search for belonging.
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Identity and Disconnection: The novel often examines Nunu’s feelings of isolation, stemming from her shifting identities as she navigates both Paris and her Turkish roots.
- “To belong nowhere and everywhere, that was something the world could give you if you were lucky enough to find it, if you were brave enough to hold onto it.” This passage underscores her sense of disconnection as well as her tentative hope in finding a middle ground between cultures.
White on White (2021)
This novel revolves around an unnamed graduate student who moves to a quiet city to study art and Gothic architecture. She forms a strange relationship with Agnes, a painter, whose art and obsessive interests in purity challenge the narrator’s own perspectives on life and intimacy.
Key Themes and Notable Passages
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Art and Purity: Agnes's art and conversations with the narrator delve into themes of surface versus substance, purity, and the artistic process. The relationship with Agnes becomes a metaphor for art's ability to reveal hidden, complex layers within ourselves.
- “There is a purity in stillness, in the white between words, in the spaces that we leave unfilled. It is where possibility resides.” This line suggests that the unspoken or “white spaces” in art and life are where true understanding and potential lie.
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The Complexity of Relationships: Savaş explores intimacy in a quiet, introspective manner, suggesting that closeness is often layered with unspoken assumptions and misunderstandings.
- “Art can be a place for contemplation, not explanation.” This perspective on art mirrors the characters’ relationships, which are often more about understanding and observation than direct communication.
Both novels reflect Savaş's delicate, introspective style. She uses her characters' inner dialogues and settings as reflective tools to dig into themes of identity, memory, and the profound effect of place on our inner lives. These works invite readers to ponder the subtleties of life, relationships, and the art of self-understanding.