Facts About Fiction

The Naïve and The Sentimental Novelist comprises the Charles Elliot Norton lectures that Pamuk was invited to deliver by Homi Bhabha at Harvard University in 2009. They were apparently written whilst travelling at airports,hotels and cafes yet they offer insight not only into his own work,but also into other authors whom he has enjoyed reading such as Tolstoy,Nabokov and Dostoyevsky. Since he examines the subject matter both as novelist and as admirer of the literary novel,he is able to introduce his own point of view as well as weave in appreciation for other writers. Wisely,perhaps,he has chosen most of his examples from the classics nothing controversial about that!,reserving special warmth for what he says is one of the best books ever written,Anna Karenina,from which he quotes most often,creating a side-narrative to the main theme.

He makes a distinction between the naïve and the sentimental novelist: the naïve novelist being one who writes spontaneously and serenely while the sentimental author is more reflective and mindful. Pamuk,of course,would prefer that novelists and readers aspire for both qualities. Interestingly,throughout the essays,he examines not only what the writer is trying to do,but also the operations performed by our minds when we read a book.

Reflecting on the oft-repeated assertion that most writers are accused of or appreciated for using autobiographical material regardless of whether they have done so,Pamuk says succinctly that the writer to admire is one who has a gift for expressing sensations just as if he had experienced them himself,and can persuade us he has lived things he has only imagined. For the reader,however,it may lead to a frustrating,never-ending quest,wondering what is real and what is not. Yet,perhaps,ultimately,concludes Pamuk,this ambiguity is important as it adds to the pleasure of reading the novel,with this tension providing a driving force.

As someone who is interested in theory and who enjoys reading about theories of the novel,Pamuk was motivated to write this collection of essays because he thought he could use his own experiences in crafting a novel and extrapolate those onto the larger world of fiction writers. For instance,in his essay on Words,Pictures,Objects,he puts forward the opinion that novels are essentially visual literary fictions,because novels essentially use our visual intelligence turning words into mental pictures.

In fact,as Pamuk points out,many novelists,from Victor Hugo to August Strindberg,enjoyed painting. Pamuk himself used to paint till the age of 23,when he gave it up in order to paint with words. However,Pamuk says,a writer should do more than just give a description of the visual: the descriptions should also be the outcome and expression of compassion felt for the characters.

In this short collection of essays,Pamuk presents a valuable insight into the minds of novelists and the impact their writing has on readers but perhaps,most importantly,he has done this by demystifying the very act of creation,giving it clarity,form and structure.