"François Angelier's publication titled "Pockets wondrous" highlights Enis Batur, Martine Desjardins, and Peng Shepherd"
New Article:
Steeped in Stories: A Literary Journey through Enis Batur's "The House of Books" and Other Tales of the Library
Hop onboard an intellectual adventure exploring the captivating world of libraries and the transformative power of books! "The House of Books" by Enis Batur, translate by François-Michel Durazzo, is our first stop on this journey, swiftly followed by "Medusa" by Martine Desjardins, "The Cartographers" by Peng Shepherd, "The Library of Babel" by Jorge Luis Borges, "The Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and "The Strange Library" by Haruki Murakami.
"Medusa" navigates through the mysterious and enchanting world of the ocean, with each chapter knitting together tales spun from mythical creatures and ancient legends. Next, Shepherd's "The Cartographers"**** illuminates the power of maps, revealing how the lines we draw shape our destinies.
Over the years, "The Library of Babel" by Borges has become more than a short story; it is now a genre – a poetic vision of our world. This powerful, lasting impact can be seen in the work of Umberto Eco, Alberto Manguel, Carlos Ruiz Zafon, and even Haruki Murakami. Among these, "The House of Books" by Batur cannot be ignored – a work by a Turkish novelist who openly confesses to Babelism. To understand this, let's sail through the heartwarming tale of a writer returning from Sarajevo, who receives an unusual inheritance – a peculiar "House of Books" – consisting of 30,000 books in a glass house overlooking the Bosphorus, nested on Dragos Hill and equipped with a cozy reading nook. We embark on an increasingly suspenseful journey, witnessing the protagonist morph into a solitary "paper man," gradually falling into manic madness. Beyond setting up a bewitching and cunning plot that entices readers, The House of Books acts as a poignant testament to what life among books, with books, but at the mercy of books, can be like – that of a bibliophile-hero immersed in an environment he cannot escape, much like a fisherman in the sea, an opium smoker with his pipe, or an acrobat in the void – all consumed by books and their captivating allure.
While you're here, won't you pour yourself a glass of stories and nestle into the comforting armchair of our library research corner? It's there where we invite you to explore intriguing links between Batur's captivating The House of Books and other prominent literary works centered around libraries, labyrinths, and the narratives they weave. Here, the library becomes more than just a physical space – it becomes a symbolic labyrinth, an inescapable escape from reality, serving as a captivating metaphor for the human mind and the complexity of knowing.
Join us for the next chapter of our explorative journey, as we delve deep into the literary world and unravel the intricate web spun by our enchanting libraries!
Enrichment Data:
1. Thematic Connections:
- Libraries as metaphors for the mind and memory:
- Batur's "The House of Books" and Borges' "The Library of Babel" use libraries as metaphors for mental complexities, symbolizing the human brain's intricate maze of thoughts and memories.
- Transformative power of books:
- In "The Strange Library", Murakami explores the power of books to change one's perception of reality, much like the protagonist of Batur's work who becomes a "paper man" and slowly sinks into madness.
- Narrative Complexity:
- Shepherd's "The Cartographers" parallels Batur's work, as both exploit the power of lines and maps to shape identities and destinies. "The Library of Babel" and Zafon's "The Shadow of the Wind" employ narratives nested within narratives, reflecting the complexity of human stories and history.
2. Books as Repositories of Cultural Memory:
- Batur's "The House of Books" presents books as repositories of cultural memory and identity, mirroring the themes portrayed in Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind."
3. Labyrinths as Structures of the Mind:
- Batur's "The House of Books," as well as Borges' "The Library of Babel," illustrate how physical spaces like libraries may represent the complexity of human thought.
4. Memory and Identity:
- Both Batur's "The House of Books" and Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind" delve into memories and their integral role in shaping personal and cultural identities.
5. Connection Table:
| Theme/Element | The House of Books (Batur) | The Library of Babel (Borges) | The Shadow of the Wind (Zafón) | The Cartographers (Shepherd) | The Strange Library (Murakami) ||--------------|------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------|| Libraries | Metaphorical space for the mind, memory, and culture | Infinite labyrinth of knowledge | Hidden library as setting | Maps as dividers of lands and fates | Surreal labyrinth blending reality and dreams || Books as change agents | Transformative power of books | Shaping personal and collective identities | Influence fate, memory, and identity | Draw lines, mold destinies | Shift perception of reality || Complexity of thought | Deeply connected to mental and narrative complexity | A metaphor for infinite intellectual space | Narrative complexity as a labyrinth | Mirrors complexities of human thoughts | Represents a psychological and existential labyrinth || Memory & identity | Books as repositories of culture | Establishes intricate connections between knowledge and self | Reflects, preserves, and distorts historical subjects | Memories as lines carved on maps | Gives a glimpse into the intricacies of memories and identities |
6. Conclusion:
Enis Batur’s "The House of Books," like the literary greats such as Borges, Zafón, and Murakami, creates an enticing literary world centered around libraries, labyrinths, and narratives. Each work, in its unique manner, grapples with the power of books to shape our consciousness, identity, and collective memory, portraying libraries as more than mere physical spaces. Instead, they represent symbolic labyrinths, psychological and intellectual arenas that define our interactions with reality, challenges us to navigate the complexities of human thought, and transport us to dreamlike landscapes, all the while preserving the intriguing narratives of our existence.
- The captivating library in Batur's "The House of Books" is not merely a physical space; it symbolizes the human mind, its intricate maze of thoughts and memories, reminiscent of Borges' "The Library of Babel."
- Books in "The House of Books" serve as repositories of cultural memory and identity, similar to the hidden library in Zafón's "The Shadow of the Wind."
- Shepherd's "The Cartographers" and Batur's work share a common theme as both exploit the power of lines and maps, shaping identities and destinies.
- Like Murakami's "The Strange Library," Batur's novel explores the transformative power of books, changing the protagonist's perception of reality much like the stories alters the reader's perspective.
