The Color of Literature

What is the color of literature?

The present picture shows that literature is hardly a means of entertainment any more. The question is, how the literary world percieve the current flow of events.

Literature, in its nature, has always been a tool to relate the history. Thus, people being the main objects, it has always been effected by major catastrophes the world has ever gone through.

Two big wars and the cold war took place in the past century resulted in pessimism not just in literature, but in any work of art. In the post-cold war era modern literary world still suffers from its bloody heritage. While we also have others, most of the poems and stories (that is, including my own work) are dominated by personal depressions.

So what's the color of literature nowadays? Blackish, I guess.

Now, at this point, please do not take me bad. Being an avid fan of modern literature; I just wanted to draw a simple picture. I do like what's being written nowadays, as well as the classics.

Technology no wonder is a blessing. And one of the greatest strides of centuries long-literary history must be the emergence of electronic literature. The biggest advantage internet brought along is that today's reader is not just dependent upon the written resources anymore, although reading in its conventional form is still my favourite. This vast ocean of online reviews and webpages offer readers a great deal of diversity to enjoy. Here, there is no black or white- you can choose whatever you like to read.

As for Istanbul Literature Review, we have two established principles: Innovation and diversity. For such a kind of literary review, I think it's appropriate not to talk about one single color, but colors. Our ultimate goal is to provide international readers a wide range of colors from which they can pick up their favourites.

By the way, we are at the threshold of another new year. I wish all our discerning readers a happy and peaceful new year.

One slight change: ILR Bookshelf is the new name for ILR Shop which sounded a bit commercial to me. Do not miss Istanbul Bookshelf Competition and New Year Book Recommendations by ILR Family.

I hope you like the colors of our review throughout the whitest season of the year.

Cordially,

Etkin Getir
Founding Owner