About the Book

A compelling "coming out of the closet" narrative, entwined in a possessive love story, unfolding in Istanbul. Alaz, an undergraduate student, falls in love with another man, named Batu, and gets pulled into an enticing and exciting gay scene in Istanbul. As he is breaking away from the taboos of his conservative upbringing forced upon him and shaped by the traditional middle eastern mentality, he enters into Istanbul's underground queer world which is filled with promises of enlightenment, sexual exploration, and self-discovery. Yet, there is a problem: Batu is too much for a young and inexperienced gay man to handle; he is emotionally manipulative, temperamental, and unpredictable. Alaz becomes obsessed with Batu, and as the complications arise from pursuing happiness while trying to untangle Batu's web of passion and dealing with his deceitful behavior, Alaz and his friends will all learn the same lesson: Love is a highway where people get lost, and they are all try finding their way home in the dark.

Exhibition
Soho House İstanbul – 2019