A Strangeness in My Mind

Index of Characters

All page numbers in bold refer to first-person narratives.

Abdülvahap

Abdurrahman Efendi: retired boza and yogurt seller. Father of Vediha, Rayiha, and Samiha; Mevlut’s father-in-law. Comes to Istanbul and goes back to the village, 3.1; his wife, son, and daughters, 8.1; his search for a husband for Vediha, 14.1; with Korkut, 14.2, 14.3; 21.1; 24.1; 27.1; 28.1; 30.1; with Süleyman, 27.2, 34.1; in the Ghaazi Quarter, 34.2, 34.3, 34.4, 34.5; 45.1; at Fevziye’s wedding, 51.1

(The) Admiral. Bringing down a nightclub; 49.1

Ahmet from Ankara. In the army

Ali

(Uncle) Asım

Atiye: Mevlut’s mother, who stays behind in the village. Writing letters, 3.1; in the village, 45.1

(The) Blind (village) Grocer; 3.1

Blind Kerim: high-school gymnastics and religion teacher, 7.1, 19.1

Bozkurt: Korkut and Vediha’s elder son. His birth, 20.1; 21.1; 21.1; 26.1; when Samiha elopes, 27.1; 34.3; 50.1; 57.1

Burhan

Captain Tahsin: owner of the Binbom Café, 37.1; his precautions against his employees’ tricks, 37.2; his fight with his employees, 39.1

Cezmi from Cizre: Beyoğlu gangster

Chubby Muharrem: employee at the Binbom Café, 39.1, 39.2

(The) Concrete Brothers, Abdullah and Nurullah, 9.1, 33.1, 53.1

Doorman Ercan, 42.1, 42.2, 42.3

Emre from Antalya (Emre Şaşmaz). In the army

Erhan

Fatma: Mevlut’s elder daughter. Her birth, 26.1; her first day of school, 37.1; her friendship with her father, 43.1, 50.1; 45.1; 50.1; on Bozkurt, 50.2; at university, 50.3; her wedding, 50.4; 54.1

(Mr.) Fazıl: school principal. The flag-raising ceremony, 7.1; on the poor and the rich, 7.2

Fehmi: physics teacher

Ferhat: the son of a Kurdish Alevi family from Bingöl who settle in Istanbul. Mevlut’s best friend. His first meeting with Mevlut, 8.1; his letters to European girls, 8.2; 9.1—9.2; 10.1 putting up posters, 12.1; 12.2; funeral riots, 13.1; the attacks on the Alevis, 13.2; 13.3; the war between Duttepe and Kültepe, 13.4; arrests, tortures, and the departure of the Alevis from Kültepe, 13.5; 17.1; his restaurant job, 17.2; 17.3; 17.4; the first love letters, 18.1; 24.1; Samiha, 27.1; 30.1; 30.2; 31.1; his days as a waiter, 31.2; working as a meter inspector, 35.1, 40.1; with Mevlut, 40.2, 40.3; 41.1; the privatization of the distribution of electricity, 41.2; 41.3; he meets Selvihan, 42.1; among the archives of electricity consumption 42.2, 46.1, 48.1; on public and private views, 43.1; the Brothers-in-Law Boza Shop, 43.2; working with Mevlut as meter inspectors, 46.2, 47.1; the Sunshine Club, 48.2; 48.3; 49.1; his death, 49.2

Fevziye: Mevlut’s younger daughter. Choosing her name, 28.1; her birth, 28.2; her friendship with her father, 43.1, 51.1; visiting Rayiha’s grave, 45.1, 51.2; 45.1; 50.1; eloping with Erhan, 51.3; their wedding, 51.4; Samiha, 53.1, 54.1

(The) Groom: son of a doctor, and Mevlut’s middle-school friend, 7.1, 44.1

Hadi from Gümüşhane

Hadji Hamit Vural: former grocer from Rize; contractor operating in and around Duttepe and Kültepe, entrepreneur, and construction magnate. His introduction to the grocery and construction businesses, 10.1; bringing unmarried workers over from the village, 10.2; Duttepe Mosque, 10.3; a dormitory for his workers, 14.1; on love, 14.2; at Mevlut’s wedding, 24.1; at Rayiha’s funeral, 45.1; giving Mevlut the share he wants, 56.1; the Tower, 57.1, 57.2

Hamdi from Gümüşdere

Hamdi the poultry dealer: Beyoğlu shopkeeper, 34.1, 37.1

Hasan: Süleyman’s elder son, 52.1, 57.1

(Uncle) Hasan: Mustafa Efendi’s older brother; Mevlut’s uncle; Korkut and Süleyman’s father. The house in Duttepe, 3.1; the grocery store, 5.1; 14.1; the plot of land in Kültepe, 15.1; on Mahinur, 47.1; paper bags, 56.1; the neighborhood councilman’s papers, 56.2

Haydar, 30.1, 31.1

Hidayet the Boxer

Hızır: ice-cream vendor

(The) Holy Guide: head of a secret lodge; master calligrapher. His first meeting with Mevlut, 36.1; Mevlidhan, 36.2; 37.1; on the fear of dogs, 47.1; on prayer and intentions, 50.1; 56.1; 56.2; 57.1

İbrahim: Fevziye and Erhan’s son; Mevlut’s grandson, 53.1

Kadri Karlıovalı (Kadri the Kurd): restaurant manager; 18.1

Kâzım: Süleyman’s younger son. His birth; 52.1; 57.1

Kemal from Zonguldak: car valet, 46.1

Korkut: Mevlut’s elder cousin; Süleyman’s older brother; Vediha’s husband; Bozkurt and Turan’s father. His old school blazer, 5.1; when he beats up a teacher, 5.2; 12.1; 12.2; putting up posters, 12.3; 13.1; 14.1; falls in love with Vediha, 14.2; with Crooked-Necked Abdurrahman, 14.3, 14.4, 14.5; peacemaker, 24.1; 27.1; 36.1; in Azerbaijan, 42.1; 45.1; with Mahinur, 47.1; 50.1; 56.1; 56.1; misplaced words, 57.1

Librarian Aysel (high school)

Mahinur Meryem: Süleyman’s singer lover and wife; her real name is Melahat. Her music career, 32.1; with Süleyman, 32.2; pregnant, 46.1; asking for a girl’s hand, 47.1; in her new home, 57.1

Massive Melahat: biology teacher, 7.1, 7.2, 13.1

Mohini: Mevlut’s middle-school and army friend; a barber. His long hair gets cut off, 8.1; UNICEF milk, 8.2; his work as a hairdresser during military service, 19.1; at Mevlut’s wedding, 24.1; 49.2

Mustafa Efendi: Mevlut’s father. Boza and yogurt seller, 3.1; his surname, 3.2; goes to Istanbul with Mevlut, 3.3; the history of the neighborhood, 4.1; takes Mevlut to a holy man in Kasımpaşa, 5.1; 5.2; in Istanbul with Hasan, 5.3; empty land and unlicensed homes, 5.4; the secrets of being a street vendor, 6.1; 6.2; his fear of the state, 6.3; the secrets of the city, 6.4; 8.1; 10.1; glass bowls, 13.1; 15.1; 17.1; hitting his son, 17.2; his death and funeral, 20.1

(Mrs.) Nalan (housewife), 31.1, 31.2

(Miss) Nazlı: middle-school English teacher, 7.1; 7.2; 7.2; on 12 March, 8.1

Nazmi from Nazilli. In the army

Nazmi the Laz: neighborhood chief

Necati: a neighbor in Tarlabaşı, 33.1, 51.1

Nedim (from the ferry pier)

Neriman. Stalking her, 11.1; 13.1; the moment, years later, when Mevlut thinks he’s just seen her again, 35.1

Ramses: high-school history teacher, 7.1, 8.1

Rasim: restaurant manager

Rayiha: Mevlut’s wife; Abdurrahman Efendi’s middle daughter; Fatma and Fevziye’s mother. Elopes with Mevlut, 1.1; goes to Istanbul with Mevlut, 1.2; 42.1; 8.1; 14.1; love letters, 18.1, 19.1, 19.2; 20.1, 21.1; on the streets of Istanbul, 22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; her wedding with Mevlut, 22.5; the first time they have sex, 23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 24.1; the henna night, 24.2; preparing rice and boza for Mevlut to sell, 25.1, 25.2; 25.3; the birth of Fatma, 26.1; motherhood, and making a home, 26.2, 26.3; 28.1; the birth of Fevziye, 28.2; 29.1; 33.1; letters, 34.1, 34.2, 34.3, 34.4; 34.5; 34.6; 34.7; 34.8; 36.1; 37.1; 37.2; visiting Mevlut at the Binbom Café, 37.3; 38.2; 38.1; 40.1; jealousy, 40.2, 41.1, 42.1, 42.2, 43.1, 43.2; 42.3; her death, 44.1

Reyhan: Rayiha’s neighbor and friend, 33.1, 36.1, 37.1, 43.1, 51.1

(Mr.) Sadullah: former shoemaker and driver. His days as a driver, and his taxis, 51.1; in Kadırga, 51.2; exploring Istanbul with Mevlut, 53.1

Safiye Aktaş: Mevlut’s uncle’s wife, and his aunt; Hasan Aktaş’s wife, 5.1, 10.1, 12.1, 14.1, 42.1, 45.1, 45.2, 57.1

Şakir: nightclub photographer

Sami from Sürmene: Beyoğlu gangster, 42.1; his influence in Istanbul and his family in the village, 46.1, 49.1

Samiha: Abdurrahman Efendi’s youngest and most beautiful daughter, 3.1; 8.1; 14.1; at Vediha’s wedding, 16.1; 24.1; her first meeting with Mevlut, 24.2; in Süleyman’s van, 26.1; 26.2; eloping with Ferhat, 27.1, 27.2; with Ferhat, 30.1; in the Ghaazi Quarter, 30.2; her wedding, 31.1; working as a maid, 31.2—9.1; 34.1; 34.2; in the boza shop, 40.1; with Mevlut’s daughters, 45.1, 45.2, 48.1, 49.1, 50.1, 50.2; leaving Ferhat, 48.2; at Fevziye’s wedding, 51.1; 54.3; at the Villa Pudding Shop, 54.1; 55.1; getting married, 55.2; becoming a homeowner, 56.1; 56.1; 57.1; the letters game, 57.1

Selvihan: Ferhat’s mysterious lover. Her first meeting with Ferhat

Show-Off Fevzi: teacher; 7.2; 16.1

Skeleton: vice principal, 5.1; 7.2; 7.1; 8.1; 8.2; on street vendors, 8.1; on school diplomas, 8.2; 13.1; 13.1

Süleyman: Mevlut’s cousin; Korkut’s younger brother, 1.1; 3.1; 3.2; showing Mevlut around Kültepe, 5.1; 5.2; 5.3; 5.4; 9.1; 11.2; 12.1; 12.1; 14.1; 14.2; 15.1; 16.1; on Samiha and Rayiha, 16.2; 20.1; the neighborhood councilman’s papers, 21.1; helping Mevlut elope, 21.2; 22.1; at Mevlut’s wedding, 24.1, 24.2; 27.1; 27.2; 27.3; 27.4; 27.5; 28.1; in Kabataş and Tarlabaşı, 29.1; at the Canopy Restaurant, 29.2; 32.1; 32.2; 32.3; 34.1; 34.2; 34.3; 36.1; running into Samiha, 41.1, 41.2, 41.3; 41.4; 45.1; at Rayiha’s funeral, 45.2; at the police station, 49.1; the migrants’ association, 49.2; asking Mevlut for Fatma’s hand for Bozkurt, 50.1; 50.2; making peace between Mevlut and Fevziye, 51.1; on Mevlut and Samiha, 52.1; 57.2

(Uncle) Tahir from Torul: restaurant manager. Haggles with Mevlut over the cost of yogurt

Tarık: Korkut’s friend from the secret service, 13.1; in Azerbaijan, 42.1

Turan: Korkut and Vediha’s younger son. His birth, 20.1; 21.1; 21.1; when Samiha elopes, 27.1; 48.1; when he gets married and has a child, 57.1

Turgut Pasha: commander of the army base in Kars, 19.1, 20.1, 20.2, 57.1

Vahit: Binbom Café employee, 38.1; watching TV, 38.2; confessions and threats, 39.1

Vediha: Abdurrahman Efendi’s eldest daughter; Korkut Aktaş’s wife; Bozkurt and Turan’s mother, 3.1; 8.1; 14.1; her wedding, 16.1; 20.1; when Samiha runs away, 27.1, 27.2, 27.3, 27.4; finding Süleyman a wife, 32.1, 32.2, 32.3; on pregnancy, 43.1; 45.1; 45.2; on Mahinur, 47.1; 48.1; Is it right? 48.1; the contract, 56.1; her married life with Korkut, 57.1

(The) Weasel: employee at the Binbom Café

Zeliha: Samiha’s friend, a maid, 30.1; 31.1; 31.1; in Mrs. Nalan’s apartment, 31.1