Books

Ayça Güçlüten’s debut novel Uykusuz (Sleepless) tells the story of Levent, a man whose life changes dramatically after he loses his sleep. Written during a period when the author herself struggled with insomnia, the novel captures themes of restlessness, existential anxiety, family bonds, childhood traumas, and the metaphorical weight of the night, all interwoven with fantastical motifs. What distinguishes Uykusuz is not only its unique language and structure but also its delicate exploration of loneliness — not just of the protagonist but of every character. At its core, the novel portrays the human process of destruction and reconstruction, a journey of tearing oneself down only to rebuild anew.

Oda (The Room) is Ayça Güçlüten’s only work in fragmented narrative form, blending prose, fragments, and poetry. The book can also be read as autobiographical, as it traces the intersections between reality and fiction within the author’s own lived experience. Through this hybrid style, Güçlüten explores the delicate boundaries between memory, imagination, and storytelling, creating a text that is both personal and universal.

This anthology of twelve themed short stories, contributed by notable contemporary Turkish writers, revolves around food. Ayça Güçlüten participated with her short story “Anne Keki” (Mother’s Cake) and also served as the editor of the book. The collection brings together diverse voices of modern Turkish literature, exploring how food intertwines with memory, identity, and storytelling.

Disco Ball tells the story of a woman who has been marginalized in various ways by society. Through her, the novel reveals how exclusion can often be systematic and deliberate, while responsibility is deflected — leaving the individual to be tossed around like a pinball by everyone else. Using the image of a disco ball that never stops spinning, casting countless colors onto everyone in the room, the novel explores the gap between lived realities and imagined lives. It reminds us that one of humanity’s central struggles lies in balancing freedom with the clarity of mind that gives meaning to it.

The nameless protagonist, defined as an “outsider” and gradually forced to the margins of the system, embodies what Güçlüten calls a “despite self”: a figure who survives, or fails to survive, the trials of life. Her journey — from childhood into a troubled adulthood — pushes readers to confront an unfamiliar perspective, compelling them to reflect on what it means to live as the other.

In İstisnai Buluşmalar (Exceptional Encounters), Ayça Güçlüten tells the shared story of those who choose to step outside the perceptions of the majority: those who ignore distance, who feign lifelessness in the struggle for existence, who do not fear emptiness, who surrender to passion, who refuse to believe in the impossible, who challenge the limits set by fate, and who fight to mend love that has long grown stagnant and fractured. Critics have described the novel as a contemporary bildungsroman, a narrative that explores the transformation of its characters through defiance, intimacy, and the search for meaning.

Gönül Tufan tells the unsettling story of Gönül, the “ugly” daughter of a beautiful mother. The novel stands out with its powerful characters and its dark, disquieting atmosphere. Rare in contemporary Turkish literature, it explores the dynamics of beauty and ugliness while holding a mirror up to society.

With its sharp social critique and its unique take on the “beauty and the beast” motif, Gönül Tufan is a striking novel that examines family, identity, and the brutal judgments of society.

The book is currently being adapted for cinema by the author herself.

Adı Kadın: Öykü Seçkisi (Named Woman: Short Story Collection) brings together twenty-two short stories selected from hundreds of submissions, showcasing the voices of eleven women writers along with contributions from jury members. The project was created to amplify women’s stories and donate the proceeds to a women’s foundation. Ayça Güçlüten contributed with one of her short stories, adding her voice to this collaborative work that highlights the strength and diversity of women’s narratives in contemporary literature.