Customer Reviews

Tales from the Expat Harem: Foreign Women in Modern Turkey (Seal Women's Travel)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I read "Expat Harem" just days after its release in Istanbul, and immediately felt an injection of positivity and rejunvenation in my choice to live in Turkey. Having been in Turkey these past 3.5 years, I thought I had seen and experienced quite a bit of Turkish life and culture, but reading this book opened my eyes to all kinds of new possibilities that are still waiting for me. It's an inspiring collection of the adventures and observations that a medley of women from different nationalities and backgrounds experienced in the past three decades, from touring around Turkey in the 70's to personal accounts of family traditions and even superstitions. I especially enjoyed one woman's account of her neighbours' generosity when she was sick for days and couldn't leave her apartment. They came over in a large group, to stoke up the fire in her woodstove, to clean up her house, to change the sheets on her bed and to make her a healthy breakfast, all in the name of fellow-compassion. When she asked them how they knew she was sick, they told her that they had noticed her absence for a few days and were worried about her. This is just one sample of Turkish caring and hospitality found in this book. I thoroughly loved reading this book for reminding me of all the positive aspects of living in this wonderful country.

Tales from the Expat Harem is a lovingly produced book that probably gives a more rounded, fully fleshed-out view of Turkey than any book has managed before. It achieves this through narratives from 29 women who have made Turkey their home, either for a time or permanently, in locations scattered throughout the country. (A helpful map in the front shows each city or village where stories take place.) About half married a Turk. The others were in a relationship that didn't fly, were trying to figure out how to date there, or were trying to navigate life as a single in a country where being alone is seen as a bit odd and sad. This variety of place and experience allows a deeper look into the culture than usual.

The quality of the writing is uniformly high, despite the fact that many of the contributors were amateur writers coaxed--and carefully edited--by Ashman and Gökmen. The two editors each contribute a tale as well: Ashman with a description of her opulent, high-society Istanbul wedding, and Gökmen with a story about giving her Turkish language skills a workout as she takes a road trip with her American mother. For anyone who wants to get a real feel for what it's like to marry into a foreign culture, or to see how daily life works out while settling into another land, this is an engaging and masterful collection.

This book gives magical insight from the perspective of foreign women living and working in Turkey.
I would especially recommend this anthology to those who may hold erroneous stereotypes about the Turkey and its treatment of women.
So, if you are still saying: "Turkey!? Didn't you see that movie "Midnight Express!?" please, please read this book.
You will be amazed and enchanted to discover a people and a culture of hospitality, warmth, and reverence for the female spirit.

As the father of an expat, I have often wondered just what it is that motivates one to leave home to live in foreign lands. This book gave me the first real insight into expat's awareness of their surroundings; those things that we who stayed home take for granted. There is a sense of mystery, awe and enchantment
with everyday living that I never realized before.

I loved this book! It certainly opened my eyes to views of another country. After reading about all of these women's wonderful experiences with the Turkish people and the beautiful land, I am absolutely interested in taking a trip to Turkey in the future. It's a wonderful compilation! I couldn't put it down!

The one theme I took away from all these articles is the 'hospitality' that this country offers all who visit. Even in the deepest part of the southeast - the hospitality was rich and genuine. There's something here that I can not get my arms around BUT it's positive and it's warm; you can not help but fall in love with the people who live in and represent Turkey.

Thank you so much for reinforcing what I already feel and know! NO ONE should miss this fine work.

Having just returned from vacation in Turkey with the future desire of moving there as an expat, I bought this book to learn what other women have experienced in their adaption to this culture. Each short story is engaging, well-written, and seemingly honest about various cultural experiences from an archeological dig with local villagers to a first-time experience at a Turkish hamam. I appreciate the open-mindedness and courage of these women who give us a personal insight into their lives as foreign women in modern Turkey.

I ordered five book about Turkey to read in preparation for my trip there this coming May, and this was by far my favorite. In fact, I think it's my favorite travel book ever. The book is composed of short essays by various women, mostly American, who have lived in Turkey and you can get a real inside personalized look into the country from their writing. These women don't just give you the history and geography, although there is some of that. They get you into the kitchen, into the bedroom, into the workplace, and into the baths in various locations throughout the country. Their stories are about people and relationships and from reading this book, I feel like I have a much better understanding of the Turkish culture. The tone of the book is conversational, and after reading a couple of books on Turkish history, Tales From the Expat Harem, seemed like talking with friends who happened to all be accomplished storytellers. I would have enjoyed this book even if i didn't have a trip to Turkey on my calendar.

We don't seem to be too knowledgeable about countries in the Middle East area and this book will explode any and all stereotypes holding you back from learning from the Turkish experience of several diverse western women who either live there or have spent much time there. Each story is written by a different woman, usually about a different angle or aspect of the culture, and it is rich with warmth and human kindness and real people. It has certainly inspired me not to be afraid to travel to the region and I will the first chance I get! Captivating writing, delightful, mind-opening stories. Don't miss this book. I passed it along to my daughter. Halfway through, she called and said she was heading to the local Istanbul Cafe (here in the southwest) for lunch and was dying to travel to Turkey! It's contagious, the enthusiasm and love of the writers for the country and its people. Don't miss it!

I lived in Istanbul for a year, teaching in a Turkish school, a couple of decades ago. This naturally prompted an interest in Turkish life, and so I picked up this volume with interest.

While there are tidbits about Turkish life [endless drinking of tea; gracious hospitality; etc.], this volume is less about Turkey than it is about self-discovery on the part of the foreign women who contributed their experiences to this volume. And that is valid -- while many people [non-travelers] believe that expats do it for the excitement, for the opportunity to see sights, living in a foreign environment is more about self-discovery: what about what I believe/do is part of me and unchangeable, what is due to societial restrictions; what am I willing to change, and what am I adamant about holding onto. This is what these contributors write about.

The volume is well-written and edited. It is an easy read. Each chapter, by a different contributor, stands independent from the others, so it is easy to pick up and put down.