Book Review: “Turknama”
Author: Meena Prabhu
Language: Marathi
Genre: Travel Diary
Pages: 278
Cost: 250/-
Publisher: Mauj Prakashan
First Published in India: 27 August 2006.
Traveling has been my passion over the years along with reading, but strangely I never read any books on traveling. May be because I don’t want to miss the adventure of experiencing it myself while traveling. But there are very minute chances of me traveling to ‘Turkey’ in near future and my friend highly regards this book so I decided to read this book. And now I am fan of Meena Prabhu’s writing. I am going to read all the books written by her.
As the book’s name suggests the book is about ‘Turkey’. Author Meena Prabhu actually travel to Greece and Turkey and wrote her experience as one book. But publisher made it into two different books ‘Greekanjali’ and ‘Turknama’. Meena Prabhu did tremendous job by describing almost every part of Turkey in the book. And I feel like I traveled with her all along. She not only describe the famous places in Turkey she included history, geography, culture in her book. She enlightened the beauty of the country historically, geographically and culturally. She described nature, beaches, sunsets such a way I felt I actually witnessing it. She talked about the rich history of Turkey right from Romans, Greeks days to current government. Turkey is blessed with very rich history. Many dynasties ruled the country and their history is fascinating. But most fascinating personality of Turkey was their national hero Kemal Pasha who literally created new country out of Turkey. Anybody who is interested in international history must learn life of Kemal Pasha.
Meena Prabhu is very much successful in portraying culture and lifestyle of Turkey nationals. But what I like most is how she compared their culture and lifestyle with Indian. She surprisingly found many similarities. I believe reason behind traveling not only discovering unseen world or people but also you want to compare your world with the people of other part of the work. And when you find some similarities you feel closer to that place irrespective of distance or language. But what Meena Prabhu did best through this book is showed way to travel and explore the unseen world.
After reading this book I decided two things. One whenever I’ll get chance I am going to Turkey. And second thing is I am going read all the books written by Meena Prabhu. I say this is ‘Must Read Book’ for everyone. If I have to rate this book I will give it 10 out of 10.
Books by Meena Prabhu,
1. Maza London
2. Sukhanidhi Tuza Maza
3. Mukhvatyanmagche Chehare, Diana Aani Charles
4. Dakshinrang
5. Meksicoparv
6. Chinimati
7. Ejiptaian
8. Greekanjali
9. Turknama
8 comments:
my wife read this book in Jan/Feb 09 and was so inspired that she collected another 2-3 freinds in may 09 and went to Turkey for 14 days and travelled all those places which she has described!
and now she has bought two volumes of Roamrajya and is after me to take her to Italy for 14 days!
Hey Buddy,
I also had similar effect of book on me, but sadly i could not mange it right away but it ranks highest in my priorities. And as they say 'Life is short, explore it as much as you can'. Who knows we will born in Turkey in next life and then this experience might be helpful.
And I will like to share your experiences in this countries. Chaos.....
warm Regards,
Swapnil
ive read egyptaayan. fantastic. i cant go to egypt right now but certainly someday i would. since then ive tried but could not get her other books.i salute the way she describes the things seen by eyes...
regards,
manish
I had been thinking about going to Turkey since last 10 years.
Last one year I did a lot of research on travel sites about Turkey.
That's when my uncle gave me "Turknama" It is a very interesting and informative book. I took it on my trip to Turkey and kept reading it while travelling.
In fact I met "Umit" who helped Meena a lot in her travel. It was just by chance, when I walked into Goreme car rental I met him. When I mentioned him about the author, and his name in the book; he was surprised to know that many like me in india know him by name. Sad thing is that he didn't know anything about the book and had no clue what happened to Meena. I wonder if I can let her know about it and ask her to send the book and the translated part of it to him.
The building he was constructing at the time of her visit, is complete and he has his shop and office in it.
We had a great time in Turkey. It is very beatiful. Thanks to Meena for her efforts.
WHAT TO WRITE ABT MEENA TAI HER STYLE OF WRITING IS GREAT YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE THERE WITH HER ALL THE TIME AND SEEING ALL THE PLACES , EXPERIENCING ALL THE THINGS LITERALLY. THE WAY SHE DESCRIBES EVERYHTING IS GREAT ... I FIRST READ HER BOOK EGYPTAYAN...THEN MEXICO PARVA...THEN GATHA IRANI... DAKSHIN RANG AND NOW READING TURK NAMA ...... I LIKE THE HER HONESTY IN WRITING GOOD BAD ALL THE EXPERIENCES SHE SHARES EQUALLY. THANKS A LOT MEENATAI .........ITS PLEASURE TO READ UR BOOKS N TRAVEL WITH U ... WHEN BOOK COMES TO AN END I DONT FEEL LIKE READING THE LAST FEW PAGES WITH THE FEAR THAT NOW BOOK WILL GET OVER...HAHAHA HOW SILLY OF ME... ANYWAY KEEP WRITING AND SHARING... LOVE YOU MEENA... FOR YOUR TREASURE.....
मी सध्या मीना प्रभू यांचे इजिप्तायन हे पुस्तक वाचत आहे. इंटरनेट समोर बसून वाचत असल्याने ज्या जागेचे वर्णन असेल, लगेच तिच्या इमेजेस पाहून् घेतो. कारण पुस्तकात चित्रे असली तरी ती थोडीशीच आहेत. पुस्तक अप्रतिम आहे यात शंकाच नाही. लिखाणाची शैली तर अशी आहे की आपण प्रत्यक्षा तिथे गेलो आहोत असे वाटावे. आम्ही नुकतीच थायलंड, मलेशिया, सिंगापोर ची सहल करून् आलो. पुढच्या वर्षी इजिप्तला जायचे आहे. म्हणून् हे पुस्तक वाचत आहे. मीना प्रभू यांची माहिती ई मेल शोधत असतांना हा ब्लोग आढळला. चांगला आहे. माझ्या शुभेच्छा.
विकास शुक्ल, चाळीसगाव
Hi,
Thanks for reading.
I am also reading "Romerajya" by Meena Prabhu currently. I loved all her book. I think she should write on India now.
I am a Fan of Meena Prabhu's writing. I read couple of travel books in English and Marathi, But I bet she is one of the best traveler and writer. Moreover, I feel Proud that she is Marathi.
I read Greekanjali, Turknama, Egyptayan, Chini Mati, Mexico Parv, dakshin rang.
All are great work
Post a Comment