On December 16, a meeting with a representative of the Turkish contemporary prose Birgul Oguz, whose novel “Hah”, translated into dozens of languages and awarded the European Union Literary Prize, was also published in Armenian by “Antares” publishing house, took place in “Navavar”.
Aravot.am asked the Turk writer how being a specialist in Anglo-American literature has influenced her manuscript and literary career.
“Usually writers who are literature specialists are not treated well, because people believe that affects the creativity of the writer. As for me, I love literature, and as a writer my career and literature have always been side by side for me. I have always thought that if my profession as a literature specialist hinders my writing career, I will stop writing”, said Birgul.
Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish literary ties, the Turkish writer expressed regret that the translated Eastern-Armenian literature is scarce, meanwhile, according to her, Armenians have created great literature since the 5th century, and the translations are just a drop in that giant sea.
Birgul does not treat the bestsellers well, she gives importance to the literature that preaches universal values, such as, Don Quixote of Cervantes.
“Two years ago, thanks to my friend Armen Ohanyan, the door to Eastern Armenian literature was opened to me”, the Turk writer noted, and added that she wishes to visit Matenadaran.
In response to the question whether why her book “Hah” was given the European Union Literary Prize, according to her, Birgul said, that it was the decision of the Turkish office of P.E.N. “Perhaps they have considered the figurative speech, and other manifestations, innovations. “Hah” is not an easy-to-read book, there are layers of language, perhaps this was what the jury liked. As for the title, “Hah” means both regret and realization of something”, said Birgul.
In response to the remark of Aravot.am, that her book is a glorification of both life and death, whether why she writes so beautifully about mourning and death, Birgul Oguz said: “Mourning and loss are painful feelings, I thought that if I could understand death, then I would be able to return to life. Mourning makes people feeble, but it is also an opportunity at the same time”.
One of the editors of “Hah” Zaven Boyajyan thinks that prizes are not always given to books that worth it, but in this case, the prize really has found its addressee. According to him, this book presents the anatomy of grief, which can be close to any person regardless of nationality or religion: “We deal with a work where the author has used postmodernist approaches, the book also attracts with its emotionality”.
Gohar HAKOBYAN
