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Stop Hurting My Flesh
Novel, Arkadaş Publications,
Originally banned in Turkey, this novel was awarded the ‘Freedom of Statement and Ideas Award’ by the Turkish Publishers Association in 2004 for its provocative and deeply moving portrayal of the degree of abuse and incest that Turkish women endure. As Arikan states, ‘It’s our fears that raise us, not our parents’. Heart-rending throughout, the book is ultimately uplifting in its depiction of women’s potential for change and self-determination through developing self-awareness.
Originally banned in Turkey, this novel was awarded the ‘Freedom of Statement and Ideas Award’ by the Turkish Publishers Association in 2004 for its provocative and deeply moving portrayal of the degree of abuse and incest that Turkish women endure. As Arikan states, ‘It’s our fears that raise us, not our parents’. Heart-rending throughout, the book is ultimately uplifting in its depiction of women’s potential for change and self-determination through developing self-awareness.
And...Or...Maybe...
Novel, Arkadaş Publications,
A young psychiatrist, Eylül works in a mental hospital.
During counselling sessions with her patients, it dawns on her that she shares many of their problems. One of Eylül’s patients is a brilliant but troubled student of philosophy. Her questions catapult Eylül into a tumultuous and far-reaching journey.
‘What is reality? To what extent does fear influence our perception of reality? Arikan explores and re-evaluates our concept of what it means to be ‘normal’ in this moving, erudite and ultimately enlightening novel of self discovery.
A young psychiatrist, Eylül works in a mental hospital.
During counselling sessions with her patients, it dawns on her that she shares many of their problems. One of Eylül’s patients is a brilliant but troubled student of philosophy. Her questions catapult Eylül into a tumultuous and far-reaching journey.
‘What is reality? To what extent does fear influence our perception of reality? Arikan explores and re-evaluates our concept of what it means to be ‘normal’ in this moving, erudite and ultimately enlightening novel of self discovery.
Yes... But... As If...
Novel, Arkadaş Publications,
Journalist Seçkin Ersin receives an anonymous letter suggesting that there’s material for an exclusive and explosive story if he observes the wife of a prominent businessman. Part detective story and part chronicle of the developing attraction and love between journalist and prey, this novel explores the absurdity of how men see women and how the male gaze has conditioned and dominated perceptions of the female.
Journalist Seçkin Ersin receives an anonymous letter suggesting that there’s material for an exclusive and explosive story if he observes the wife of a prominent businessman. Part detective story and part chronicle of the developing attraction and love between journalist and prey, this novel explores the absurdity of how men see women and how the male gaze has conditioned and dominated perceptions of the female.
Undressing Herself
Journalist Seçkin Ersin receives an anonymous letter suggesting that there’s material for an exclusive and explosive story if he observes the wife of a prominent businessman. Part detective story and part chronicle of the developing attraction and love between journalist and prey, this novel explores the absurdity of how men see women and how the male gaze has conditioned and dominated perceptions of the female.
You Exist In No Way
Novel, Arkadaş Publications,
Inspired by the true story of a young man’s escape from the history of vendetta that has dominated his family, this modern fable is Arikan at her most romantic and surreal.
Inspired by the true story of a young man’s escape from the history of vendetta that has dominated his family, this modern fable is Arikan at her most romantic and surreal.
Hope Is A Curse
Novel, Arkadaş Publications,
In this pioneering work, drawing on elements of mythology, fiction and philosophy, Arikan explores themes of enslavement and liberation. She challenges conventional ‘human’ existential analyses and proposes, instead, that the key to understanding men and women lies in their essential differences.
In this pioneering work, drawing on elements of mythology, fiction and philosophy, Arikan explores themes of enslavement and liberation. She challenges conventional ‘human’ existential analyses and proposes, instead, that the key to understanding men and women lies in their essential differences.
The Body Knows
Research Book, Destek Publications,
The result of scientific and psychological research this book confronts the assumptions of the patriarchal sciences and suggests not only that biological differences determine our consciousness but that in order to exist, we must learn to reconnect consciousness with our physical bodies.
The result of scientific and psychological research this book confronts the assumptions of the patriarchal sciences and suggests not only that biological differences determine our consciousness but that in order to exist, we must learn to reconnect consciousness with our physical bodies.
The Tempest of Yearning
Novel, Yitik Ülke Publications,
This intensely sensual novel uses metaphors of music, taste, colour and smell to explore the inheritance of ancestral guilt.
This intensely sensual novel uses metaphors of music, taste, colour and smell to explore the inheritance of ancestral guilt.
Erospa
Meltem Arıkan’s latest novel is different in style than her former ones. This time she provides her readers with artistic blends between reality and phantasy. The universe we enter is highly digital and rather inhuman. Hackers have become the masters of the future and rule over mankind via computer programs. In a world full of violence and evil, they try to establish a new world order by using their own sense of justice. Their vengeance consists of organising the extinction of mankind. One of these seekers of justice is Erospa whose real identity is a mystery. On different time levels, we get to know all those who wish to destroy the world in its current state. They are convinced that man as God’s creation is a complete failure. God himself, the son of Ana Server, is so disappointed by the forms of human life he invented that one day he tries to commit suicide.
Only Thing They Knew Was Love
Meltem Arıkan’s most recent novel. As was already the case in her last book Erospa, we once again come across an artistic blend of reality and fiction. What is most striking is maybe not so much the story itself but its unusual structure as well as the writer’s skilful play with words and different narrative techniques, including regular poem-like interruptions, a traditional fairytale and dialogues in SMS style. This technique of writing a novel within a novel makes the reader draw parallels between the inner conflicts of both women. It is not a coincidence that İnci Tanır sets her story’s plot in Wales to create a geographical distance between herself and her fictional characters. The love story she describes is a mix of unhealthy power games and supernatural elements, showing women as omnipotent witches and weak, oppressed individuals at the same time. More often than not, love is experienced as a source of danger and manipulation, wiping out the few moments of happiness that came with it.As its title clearly tells, Meltem Arıkan’s novel is about love in its many shades. Those who know a bit about her main concerns in life, may also find her general observations about power games, nature, violence against women and the urgent need for emotional emancipation insightful. Her philosophical digressions on the purposes of writing and the modern phenomenon of multiple identities are also worth thinking about.
I Confess I am Guilty
Meltem Arıkan'ın yıllar içinde yazdığı makaleler, iç dökmeler ve şiirlerinden oluşan deneme kitabı... Cardiff istasyonunun kapısından çıkar çıkmaz... Bir bavulla terk etmek zorunda kaldığım Türkiye’den Galler’e ilk geldiğim gün... Yazdığım tiyatro oyunu “Mi Minör’den daha absürtleşen hayatım.. Yazın, sıcaktı istasyondan çıktığımızda... Evim, sevdiklerim geride kalmıştı… Meral ablamın elbiselerini almıştım yanıma.. Israrla... Herşeyim geride kalmıştı. Bir zamanlar yasaklanan romanım, basılmış kitaplarım, mücadelem, konuşmalarım... Suçlamalar, tacizler, tehditler... Yazar Meltem Arıkan... Her şey bugün gibi. Her şeye başka bir ülkede sıfırdan başlamak... Ağırlaştırılmış müebbet hapisle yargılanmak… Kime neyi nasıl anlatabilirim. Nerden başlamam gerek… Hangi birini anlatayım... Çaresizlik ve onun yarattığı suskunluk içinde yazmaya devam etmek... Şaşkınım, kızgınım, üzgünüm ama galiba en çok kırgınım…
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