15th May Newsletter

What’s On At Veranda

Welcome, welcome! Of course, the big news this week has been the reshuffle. No, not that one! We’re talking of course about the reshuffle of our Translated Fiction shelves, where we spent a very satisfying afternoon imposing order on the chaos. Now organised by region, you can move smoothly between Asia and Latin America, and from the Middle East to the Nordics quicker than you can say ‘Teffi’ (location: Russia/Caucasus/Central Asia). And as our Mediterranean Month continues, the window’s overflowing with inspiration – novels from Greece, Italy, Spain…, cookery books, kids’ books, travel ideas, and a feature wall of summery reads. A cool glass of rosé, sharp little espresso, or mouthwatering sunshine citrus – whatever your poison, one of our books will be the perfect accompaniment. See you soon!

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Shop News

This week’s events…

What a treat this week to host events for two brilliant writers and their new books.
On Tuesday, Pedro Carmona-Alvarez launched Chiquitita, a child’s eye view of fleeing a collapsing country and finding refuge in another. Drawn from Pedro’s own experiences, this book has an unmistakeable urgency, and it was fascinating to hear about the choices Pedro made in writing it, and in fact, how some of those choices just seemed to make themselves. Exquisitely translated by Seán Kinsella, this is a highly recommended read – find a stack in store now.
Thursday evening was full of connections – Ben Faccini was our guest, discussing his 3rd novel Other People’s Children with his former student MZ Adnan, now a fully-fledged journalist, writing on art, books and other cultural matters. Old friends reconnected over a glass of wine, and we welcomed new faces to the shop. Ben’s book is a glorious tapestry of heritage, experience and imagination, and it took him years to arrange all the pieces. We urge you to get lost in this beautiful novel which is already winning over critics from the Times to the FT. Signed copies available at the shop.
NB May’s packed schedule of events continues with visits from Shida Bazyar, Artëm Chapeye, Liliana Colanzi, Imani Thompson and Leodora Darlington. Book online or instore – waitlist places are also available for sold-out events.
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A taste of modern Turkish writing

When you think of Turkey, what comes to mind? A world-class cuisine of juicy kebabs and pistachio-studded baklava? EU-rejectee turned global power-broker in the 21st-century conflicts of the Middle-East? Sun, sea and hair transplants?
What probably doesn’t come to mind is a rich and varied literary heritage, widely available in translation – and we’d suggest (to the best of our knowledge), that’s because we just don’t see enough of it. It’s still something of a mystery to us (and to publishers we’ve spoken to), why so few Turkish books make it into translation. Turkey is a complex, confident, exceptionally vibrant country and we believe there’s a serious gap in the market here.
But if you want to know more about contemporary Turkey, read on: while we may not (yet) be able to offer you the full banquet, we hope we can tempt you with a ‘meze’ of carefully-selected writing:
  • The two big-name novelists to know are of course, Orhan Pamuk and Elif Shafak. Nobel-prize winner Pamuk writes rich literary fiction inspired by Turkish history and modern-day Istanbul. Philosophical and frequently political, Pamuk also explores universal themes of love and human tragedy in his rewarding novels.  Elif Shafak has lived in the UK since 2013, although she switched from writing in Turkish to English some time before the move. We recommend reading some of her earliest works, in translation, to gain greater insight into contemporary Turkish society.
    • Veranda Picks: Snow or The Red-Haired Woman by Orhan Pamuk. The Flea Palace or The Bastard of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
  • If you’d like something a little lighter to go with your poolside cocktail, we’d be happy to serve you a sliver of Defne Suman, Istanbul-born, and something of a free spirit, her books capture family drama and the complexities of Turkey’s history. Try Summer Heat or The Silence of Scheherezade. Or the ultimate holiday read this year, Summerhouse by Yiğit Karaahmet, set on Istanbul’s Prince’s Islands – a heady mix of darkness and desire.
  • Maybe non-fiction is more to your taste, in which case Ece Temelkuran’s Turkey: The Insane and the Melancholy would be a good place to start. A love letter to the country she can no longer call home, Temelkuran’s 2015 book provides excellent insight into the political structures and struggles emerging a decade ago. Follow that with any of her more recent books, written in exile. Or, check out Suzy Hansen’s brand new book From Life Itself, for an up-to-date reading of Turkish life seen through the prism of one Istanbul neighbourhood.
This is just a flavour of what Turkey has to offer – we have more at the shop, and we’re always on the lookout for literary treasure from this glorious Mediterranean nation. Call in for a chat if you’d like to know more, and in the meantime – afiyet olsun!
(NB with respect to the following translators: Maureen Freely, Ekin Oklap, 
 Müge Göçek, Aslı Biçen, Betsy Göksel, Nicholas Glastonbury, Zeynep Beler)
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Now Booking

Lauren Elkin in conversation with Alice Vincent

Lauren Elkin first came to our attention as the translator of work by Constance Debré, Simone de Beauvoir and Colombe Schneck. She’s also the author of Scaffolding and Art Monsters – and she has written widely on books, art and culture in Granta, the LRB, the NYT. If you’d hadn’t guessed, we’re huge fans! So imagine our excitement when we persuaded Lauren to spend the evening of 4th June at the shop so we could hear more about her new book Vocal Break: On Women, Music and Power, which blends memoir, feminist manifesto and cultural history to explore the ways in which women have used their singing voices to defy convention and challenge racism, sexism and capitalism.
And in the interviewer’s chair, we’re delighted to welcome back Alice Vincent, author of last year’s spectacular Hark: How Women Listen, a highly original exploration of women’s relationship with sound. This was one of Emily and Alison’s favourite books of 2025, and this will certainly be a conversation worth making time for.
We expect tickets to move very quickly – they’re available to book now, or call in at the shop to reserve your space!
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Our Recommended Reads

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She Who Remains by Rene Karabash (tr. Isadora Angel)

Emily’s choice this week, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, this is an original novel about gender, identity and what it means to be free. Relayed through a stream of consciousness, letters and interviews with a journalist, Bekija renounces her womanhood to escape an arranged marriage and becomes a sworn virgin, effectively earning the same rights as men. The book addresses the consequences of her/their decision and the lasting effects on family and friends. It’s a tender, and at times, heartbreaking novel, so different to anything I’ve read before.

Lázár by Nelio Biedermann (tr. Jamie Bulloch)

In a recent newsletter, we wrote about young writers whose work had stood the test of time. An addition to that list: 22-year-old Nelio Biedermann, whose breathtaking debut Alison is recommending this week. A (very) adult fairy tale meets historical epic, it traces the fortunes of the aristocratic Lázár family from the dying days of the Habsburg Empire to the failed Hungarian Uprising in 1956. It’s a sensual, gothic fable – full of illicit sex, sinister children and mysterious forests, all set against the backdrop of European political upheaval and destruction. A fantastic, immersive read from a seriously impressive new writer.

What we’re loving this week…

Emily has been compelled by Half Man which has started on the BBC. Three episodes in, it is a tough watch. After the huge success of Adolescence last year, this show feels like another deep dive into masculinity and violence. The characters are complex and brilliantly written by Richard Gadd (of Baby Reindeer fame). It’s painful and uncomfortable at times and the level of menace always seems to be turned up to 11. The threat of violence constantly simmering under the surface. It’s a fascinating character study and will keep me gripped while the Beeb drip feeds episodes every Sunday.
Leo has been watching the new series of Hacks (Now TV). this extremely popular American series appears to have slipped under the radar over here, but is a reassuring escapist and fun watch while we wait for the new series of Rivals to drop…
Alison went to see The Devil Wears Prada 2, perfect way to spend a glorious English summer evening of subzero temperatures and torrential rain. Meryl Streep and her new ‘Emily’ are a great duo, but the original Emily (Blunt) steals the show again.

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