Summer Heat, Defne Suman

 Defne Suman's Summer Heat is, as the title suggests, a sun-soaked novel, made for dipping into between dips in the sea. It features all the typical elements of a beach read: scorched flagstones, salty skin, drowsy sunset dinners, an illicit affair (featuring plenty of salacious references to broad chests and muscular shoulders), even an existential submergence in the ocean (can the protagonist surrender to the flow of life? Or will they drown, overwhelmed by their fate?) 

Beginning in Istanbul, the story follows Melike, a Turkish woman in her forties whose idyllic relationship can't quite satiate her craving for acknowledgement and acceptance, a craving rooted in childhood abandonment. Having already had several affairs, Melike is about to embark on another, unaware that this affair will unearth revelations that will force Melike to confront her turbulent family history. It's a history that has been tragically influenced by the 1970s Aegean dispute. As Melike delves into her past, there are flashbacks to 1974, the year of the Turkish invasion of Northern Cyprus, which marked the beginning of the conflict, and which also serves as a catalyst for the disintegration of Melike's family. 

Read the rest here: Summer Heat, Defne Suman — nb. Magazine (nbmagazine.co.uk)