Istanbul, Turkey – Orhan Pamuk, the 2006 Nobel laureate in Literature, has released a new illustrated diary titled "Memories of the Distant Mountains." In an exclusive interview with Korean journalists, Pamuk shared the deep personal significance behind this collection of drawings and writings.
“Until I was 22, I grew up in a family of architects with a dream of becoming a painter. So, there's still a painter inside me who wants to express myself,” Pamuk said.
The diary, published by Minumsa, offers an intimate look into the life of one of Turkey’s most celebrated writers. Pamuk began sketching and writing in his Moleskine notebook daily in 2009, filling its pages with his thoughts, observations, and experiences.
“Writing a diary is, in a way, an extension of loneliness. It’s a way of saying to oneself, ‘I am important.’ It’s also a way of not forgetting a clever thought,” Pamuk explained. “A diary must come from the heart, so I encourage everyone to keep one.”
The book covers a wide range of topics, from Pamuk’s travels and family life to his writing process and his complex relationship with his homeland, Turkey. He also shares personal anecdotes about the characters and plots that inspired his novels.
“This notebook is like a desk that I carry in my pocket, where I can write and draw,” Pamuk said. “I always want to return to it.”
Despite facing threats from the Turkish government for his outspoken views, Pamuk remains committed to his writing and his belief in the power of the written word. “I think the greatest thing I’ve done in my life is write,” he said.
The diary also includes reflections on the political situation in Turkey and South Korea. Pamuk expressed his support for the recent impeachment motion against South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol. “I heard the news that the impeachment motion against the South Korean president was passed,” Pamuk said. “If I were in Korea, I would write about this situation in my notebook. I respect the wishes of 75% of the Korean people. I hope they get what they want.”
In the concluding part of the interview, Pamuk offered advice to aspiring writers: “Don’t be ashamed of your thoughts. Believe in yourself. Be alone with your notebook. Don’t show it to anyone. Even if you’re embarrassed, keep writing. Develop your own language, and when you speak to another self, look at the world through that developed language. You will see the world from a different perspective.”
Pamuk is currently working on a new novel titled “First Love.” He shared that he has been writing and revising the novel for six months.
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