In poetically well built museums, formed from the heart's compulsions, we are consoled not by finding in them old objects that we love, but by losing all sense of Time.

More than anything I am a novelist. But for me, an author's job is not only to create linguistically accomplished works. As an author I also want to stimulate discussion.

My religion is complicated. Literature is my true religion. After all, I come from a completely non-religious family.

I believe strongly in an author's moral responsibility. But his first obligation is to write good books.

Of course in Turkey I'm seen as being on the 'Western' side, criticised by the nationalists, criticised by the communitarians as not belonging. Even, sometimes, criticised for looking at my country through Western eyes. And in the Western media I'm portrayed as belonging to the East.

I don't want to be a tree; I want to be its meaning.

The secularists in Turkey haven't underestimated religion, they just made the mistake of believing they could control it with the power of the army alone.