A RAVEN SUMMER (Novel)

Author: Mehmet Unver

                           

       ISTANBUL DURING BEAUTIFUL SIXTIES

“All those nice people have been living in peace and integrity regardless of their social status and religion in a fabulous city. One day this delicate dream came to end.  Everything changed rapidly. Now the question is: What will be the future? Will the innocence of the city come back again or dirty face of the life will reign forever” 

    Imagine dream city Istanbul in the beginning of sixties. Population consisted of Moslems, Jews, and other Non-Moslems had been living together in peace as it used to be for many centruies in the picturesque villages on both side of the Bosphorus. Today’s nostalgic trams and steam boats were the main public transportation at that time. A real ease and peace reigned in this dazzling city which was the host of many civilizations and link of two continents when our story began:

    A stormy day a young, charming jewish girl knocks the door of her childhood friend’s house with her illegitimate son.  She is so desperate and hopeless since she is excluded from her community because of her illegitimate son whose father was a rich jewish businessman committed to suicide and died as a result of unexpected bankruptcy.

     Her childhood friend has been struggling with the mercilessness of her troubled life as a recently widowed woman and mother of five orphan children. Despite all destitute she does not hesitate to share the small cottage and welcomes her. Together they make a big family and  illegitimate son Moiz is the youngest member of this large self sacrificing family.

     Beginning from that stormy day life becomes a big funny game for all. Family children and naughty neighbour kids discover unigue excitement of being and acting together as a big family day by day. Even, they set up a street boys gang to rule in their child kingdom and find new enjoyments. Sixties Istanbul was ready to give more and more pleasure to those little bastards with its colorful life and fabulous environment.

     Unfortunately during mid sixties life becomes to be less generous to everyone because of economic crisis breaks out suddenly. Population living in countryside begins to move to big cities to seek for new life and hope. Not just our large family but almost all city residents regardless of poor or rich were affected by the rapid growing of the city population caused by the mass migration from countryside to Istanbul. Everyday new residents appear in the neighbourhood, and Istanbul is not the dazzling city anymore.  As city residents, environment changes with new jerry-build suburbs and vulgarity of growing population. 

     First inevitable result of this social impact is the conflict of different cultures between the original residents of Istanbul and newcomers. Later on our orphans will have to face dirty side of adults as child sexual abuse and violence. While newcomers are taking the majority, native fellows become lessen day by day as another unpleasant result of migration soursed from countryside. As the time goes on, no one is innocent anymore. Will the old, beautiful days come back or their life turn to a tragic experience that leave deep trauma to burn their heart life long.

    This novel tells us how unexpected social impacts of a rapid change destroy a dream city and how this impacts turn innocent people’s life into a tragic turmoil. Also this novel proofs us how a fairy tale comes true in such conflict and turmoil. A RAVEN SUMMER is a stunning novel told by the witness of  mischievous children in a naive and fluent way.

Written by Mehmet Unver (Author)