--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I decided to write a novel about…" description: "\"When I decided to write a novel about Istanbul, I thought I should put the different faces of Istanbul into one book. I also put the characters in a ce..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/burhan-sonmez-23988_book_when-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-about-is_3004122.jpg" --- # When I decided to write a novel about Istanbul, I thought… ![“When I decided to write a novel about Istanbul, I thought I should put the different faces of Istanbul into one book. I also put the characters in a cell, and it's three stories underground, rather than on the surface. The characters have one Istanbul, the other one is above ground. One is in…” quote by Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/burhan-sonmez-23988_book_when-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-about-is_3004122.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/burhan-sonmez-23988_book_when-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-about-is_3004122.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0df/burhan-sonmez-23988_book_when-i-decided-to-write-a-novel-about-is_3004122.jpg) > “When I decided to write a novel about Istanbul, I thought I should put the different faces of Istanbul into one book. I also put the characters in a cell, and it's three stories underground, rather than on the surface. The characters have one Istanbul, the other one is above ground. One is in dark, one is in light. That kind of contradiction - those opposite sides - creates a great energy in Istanbul.” [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The novel uses Istanbul’s contrasting layers—underground versus surface, darkness versus light—to embody the city’s contradictions, creating dynamic tension and energy. **In simple terms:** Contrasting settings in a story reflect a city’s dualities, generating compelling narrative energy. Key Takeaway Use opposing environments to highlight conflict and vitality. Themes contradiction duality energy urban narrative layered storytelling Mood curious energetic Type literary creative When to use this quote - novel structure - setting design - thematic exploration - cultural representation Key Concepts symbolism spatial metaphor character contrast Questions to Reflect On - What does the underground represent versus the surface? - How do light and dark shape character motivations? A Different Perspective Risk of confusing readers if contrasts are not clearly linked to theme. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Contradiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contradiction/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Istanbul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/istanbul/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [When people are not in a prison cell they believe they are free and happy. That's not true. Because in Istanbul, the modern person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/when-people-are-not-in-a-prison-cell-they-believe-they-are-free-and/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Istanbul is divided by time, not space. The first Istanbul is the Istanbul of the past. 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Riddle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-g-riddle/) > [And if I can't be with you I would rather have a different face And if I can't be near you I would rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/and-if-i-can-t-be-with-you-i-would-rather-have-a-different-face-and/) [Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/) > [Life is like the dice that, falling, still show a different face. So life, though it remains the same, is always presenting different aspects.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-sanchez/life-is-like-the-dice-that-falling-still-show-a-different-face-so/) [Alexis Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-sanchez/) ## More by Burhan Sonmez > [Istanbul is divided by time, not space. The first Istanbul is the Istanbul of the past. A long time ago, during the empire, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/istanbul-is-divided-by-time-not-space-the-first-istanbul-is-the/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [People feel that the beauty of the Istanbul is something we used to have in the past or something we will have in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/people-feel-that-the-beauty-of-the-istanbul-is-something-we-used-to/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Turkish society is divided not only culturally but also politically. You're either conservative or progressive. Islamist or secular. Right wing or left wing. 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We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/turkey-are-the-independent-people-we-are-our-own-nation-in-this-world/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Someone might say about a person, "Oh, they are a 'Westerner." But who are Westerners? Greek, Bulgarian, German, English, Scandinavian, Spanish, American, Latin. All…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burhan-sonmez/someone-might-say-about-a-person-oh-they-are-a-westerner-but-who-are/) [Burhan Sonmez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burhan-sonmez/) > [Democracy is to have different ideas, even extreme ones. In democracy there is space for all of them and bridges to connect them. 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