Book Discussion: The Renovation by Kenan Orhan

Dilara’s father has dementia. Dilara hires builders to adapt her apartment for him, but when the renovation is complete she discovers that instead of a new bathroom, the builders have installed a Turkish prison cell. At first she is outraged. her family are exiles – they left Turkey many years ago and have never been back. The last thing she wants is a piece of her estranged homeland appearing uninvited in her new home.

But as the weeks pass, her indignation gives way to curiosity. Beyond the cell door, she glimpses the guards and hears the prisoners and smells the sesame scent of freshly baked simit. Even as she struggles to care for her father, to keep the family finances afloat and stop the wheels coming off her marriage, Dilara is drawn back again and again to the mysterious prison cell, and through it to a city that once belonged to her – back to Istanbul.

LOCATION: Maison Internationale des Associations, salle Albert Jacquard
Starting time: 19:15 sharp
Presenter: Güniz
Format:

Members introduction (5-10 minutes)
Book presentation (20-30 minutes)
A brief history of the author’s life
A short summary of the book
Main ideas/themes
Group discussion (45-60 minutes), members' personal views on the book, opposing ideas, etc.
Announcement/info on next meeting (5 minutes)

Note: reading the book is not a "must" to attend the meeting, but encouraged if you want to actively participate in the discussion.

We look forward to seeing you all!

Upcoming events: https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/future
Past events: https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/past
Presentation slides (recent): https://www.genevainternationalbookclub.com/post/slides-2026