Strong female narratives

Literature has long been one of the most important mediums for amplifying the voices of women, providing a far-reaching space to explore their stories, struggles, aspirations and successes.

There are myriad wonderful examples of such works from women writers in Turkey and abroad, in the form of novels, memoirs, articles and short stories. With Dinlebi, there’s a whole world of inspirational female voices to be heard, and we’ve rounded up some audiobooks to start off with, all of which come from writers hailing from different eras, places and experiences. Take your pick and start listening.

Writer: Margaret Atwood
Publication year: 1985
Narrator: Tilbe Saran

Two-time Booker Prize winner Margaret Atwood’s famous dystopian novel tells the story of Offred, a woman living in the religious fundamentalist Republic of Gilead as a handmaid. In servitude of a Commander and his wife, she’s among a small portion of the female population who are still fertile. This chilling tale, set in a not-too-distant future, is more relevant than ever and Tilbe Saran captures all of its wit and drama in her Turkish narration.

Writer: Duygu Asena
Publication year: 1987
Narrator: Sezgi Deniz

Penned by Turkey’s pioneering feminist writer, this briefly banned book is a strong testament of a woman’s struggle as an individual within Turkish society, from childhood to womanhood. With a perspective that stays true to the framework of the feminist movement, this bestseller caused big waves upon its release and maintains its relevance as the themes that thread through the story are still hot topics within contemporary public debate.

Writer: Svetlana Alexievich
Publication year: 1985
Narrator: Yağmur Gurur

Svetlana Alexievich, the 2015 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate, is known for her intricately constructed works of oral history, focusing primarily on era-defining moments of Russian history. In her critically acclaimed first book, she gives a voice to more than 200 women who were veterans of the Second World War; their harrowing stories recall how they not only tended to the wounded on the frontlines, but also engaged in combat as snipers and intelligence corps.

Writer: Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb
Publication year: 2013
Narrator: Linda Çandır

The 2014 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s autobiographical book records her remarkable tale that took her from a remote valley in Pakistan to addressing the United Nations in New York City. Fighting for girls’ right to education in Pakistan as a teenager, Malala was targeted by the Taliban for speaking out, and her journey of recovery took her to the UK where she continues her activities as a human rights advocate.

Writer: Ece Temelkuran
Publication year: 2020
Narrator: Ece Okay

Award-winning journalist Ece Temelkuran is well known for her works of investigative journalism, particularly focusing on women’s issues and the social aspects of fields such as economics, politics and justice. In this short piece, the author provides a narrative on women’s struggles as a symbol of fertility, both in humanity and in nature, exposing parallels in the way the environment and women are treated by the patriarchal system.

Writer: Elif Şafak
Publication year: 2019
Narrator: Billur Güventürk

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, this novel by the internationally bestselling author centres on Leyla, picking up in the final minutes of her life when she’s murdered on the outskirts of Istanbul. It reflects on the concepts of gender, abuse and oppression, masterfully delivered through the telling of her stories and those of her adopted family of fellow outsiders.

Writer: Nilüfer Açıkalın
Publication year: 2014
Narrator: Nilüfer Açıkalın

Actor and author Nilüfer Açıkalın’s first novel takes us into the underbelly of the film industry, focusing on a woman’s tale of solitude, love and serendipity. The main character Solmaz embarks on a journey of transformation as she joins a film crew travelling out of the city and into the countryside, where both the setting and our protagonist open up to new realities.

Writer: Sinem Sal
Publication year: 2020
Narrator: Oya Akar

Representing a new generation of emerging literary figures in Turkish literature, Sinem Sal is known for her books of poetry and prose. In this short story, she gives a voice to a girl yet to be born, frustratingly observing society’s inherently unfavourable view towards daughters.

Writer: Şermin Yaşar
Publication year: 2020
Narrator: Erkan Bektaş

Coming from a literature and copywriting background, Şermin Yaşar rose to fame via her popular motherhood-focused social media account. Mostly known for her books on child development, Deli Tarla marks a shift for the author towards short stories, featuring pieces touching on the human condition.

Dinlebi: Audiobook

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