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Rating: 
Title: Kahraman Sokagi Sakinleri (The Residents of Kahraman Lane)
Author: Resat Karakuyu
Review: by Rachel Amado Bortnick
You do have to read Turkish (at least until it is translated into English) but you don't have to be "Izmirli" to love a new
two-volume book, "Kahraman Sokagi Sakinleri" (The Residents of Kahraman Lane) by Resat Karakuyu - sort of a Mark-Twain-style
fictional, but true-to life episodes, most from the perspective of children who lived on Kahraman Sokagi (now 919. Sok.) in
Izmir. On this narrow street were many "aile evi", communal houses for poor people. These consisted of a central courtyard
surrounded by rooms, one family per room. In these "aile evleri" and along the entire short street, lived Muslims and Jews in
shared misery and mutual concern, compassion and support. One of those better-off was Doktor Israel, a compassionate human
being who not only took care of the poor people at their homes without charging them, but also brought them food, medicine, and
whatever else was needed. Among the poor Muslims were many refugees from the Balkans, especially from Skopje, displaced or
expelled in the early years of the twentieth century, and their Turkish-born children.
The first volume covers the years 1928-1935, when the Republic was still young and social changes were taking place. Most
adults, especially women, on Kahraman Sokagi were illiterate and deeply superstitious, but school-age children attended public
school. Each chapter in the book is a different episode in the lives of the street urchins and/or their families, and includes
descriptions of superstitions, ailments and home remedies, conditions in the tobacco factories, and much more.
The second volume covers the years 1936-1941 wherein momentous events such as the death of Ataturk, the outbreak of World War II
and resulting shortages, disease epidemics, etc. took place. The stories, as well as the photos of old Izmir interspersed in
the books will bring back memories, smiles and tears to people like me who remember old Izmir - though the memories may be
from a different perspective than the Kahraman Sokagi children.
Originally published in 1984 in Germany to rave reviews, "Kahraman Sokagi Sakinleri" saw its Turkish edition only last year.
The author himself, born in 1938, actually grew up on Kahraman Sokagi, lived in Germany and has returned to live in Izmir. He
has dedicated the Turkish edition of the book to ". my native beautiful Izmir, to all Izmirlis, and to the Izmirli Jews, most
of whom now live in Israel, whose stories are also told in the novel."
I only wish the book could be made into a movie. For now Mr. Resat Karakuyu is interested in having this, as well as one of his
other novels - "Utopia: Mistik masal dunyasi" - translated into English and published, possibly in the United States.
"Utopia..." is an absorbingly told mystical and allegorical tale, promoting tolerance, brotherhood, cooperation, and peace
among all people.
You may write to the author, whether to order the books, to discuss possibilities of translation, or both, at
resatkarakuyu@superonline.com.
The German edition of the book brought the author rave reviews from the German media.
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