One Year Of Love

Dear Invaluable Readers of Istanbul Literature Review;

I proudly present you the first year anniversary edition of ILR. So far, our unique organization proved useful to provide worldwide readers a different taste of literature. In my opinion, ILR no wonder ranks among the top innovative literary reviews of the world, thanks to the priceless efforts of ILR family. I'd like to thank those who one way or another got involved in our one-year journey.

I wish our celebration took place under the peaceful blue skies, however our skyline is clouded with anger, death and destruction. As the season's turning into fall on this part of the globe, the sky ,in the full sense of the world, is frowning at us.

However, we make up one of the most sensitive groups of the world. And if you're reading these sentences, you are a member of it; which means we can do something. As I always say, perhaps the most important mission of literature is to gather people all around the world around the torch of humanity. That is to say, to construct a worldwide understanding of world's important issues regardless of race, background and religion.

Among those efforts to soothe the pain of suffering humanity, Writer's Alliance stands as one perfect example. Writer's Alliance is a platform where authors and artists meet to depict the crisis in Darfur and it has been a great success. Supporting these kind of efforts, we can at least reduce the cost we pay.

ILR Family is getting richer day by day. William Walsh, author of Speak So I Shall Know Thee column, is the latest arrival to our staff. In his interview with Pearl Cleage, he touches upon many interesting and important issues of literary and modern world.

Among the recent publications, I found three which I thought ILR readers might enjoy.

The first two come from Arabesques Press. 23 Istanbul Karabitsi, in which Daniel Pendergrass draws a vivide picture of Istanbul, is finally released. It's perhaps one of the greatest poetry collections ever published about the historical city.

Arabesques Literary and Cultural Review's Identities issue asks its readers “Who are we?” and “What are we doing?”. These two questions are of a critical importance at these unsettling times.

The last one comes from Hollywood. Claptrap: Notes From Hollywood is released from Cantara Books. This poetry collection by Stephen Gyllenhaal, who is a film director in the capital of the movie industry, is rather an interesting one and reading is a real fun.

I hope the first year anniversary edition helps to soothe the common pain we have been suffering for quite a long time.

Cordially,

Etkin Getir
Founding Owner