Snow

Dread,yearning,identity,intrigue,thelethalchemistrybetweenseculardoubtandIslamicfanaticism–thesearetheelementsthatOrhanPamukannealsinthismasterful,disquietingnovel.AnexiledpoetnamedKareturnstoTurkeyandtravelstotheforlorncityofKars.Hisostensiblepurposeistoreportonawaveofsuicidesamongreligiousgirlsforbiddentoweartheirhead-scarves.ButKaisalsodrawnbyhismemoriesoftheradiantIpek,nowrecentlydivorced.Amidblanketingsnowfallanduniversalsuspicion,KafindshimselfpursuedbyfiguresrangingfromIpek’sex-husbandtoacharismaticterrorist.Alostgiftreturnswithecstaticsuddenness.Atheatricaleveningclimaxesinamassacre.Andfindinggodmaybethepreludetolosingeverythingelse.Touching,slylycomic,andhummingwithcerebralsuspense,Snowisofimmenserelevancetoourpresentmoment.