Merve Emre, Turkish-American Writer

At the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) 2024, Merve Emre spoke about her book “Paraliterary: The Making of Bad Readers in Postwar America.”

- Merve Emre

Excerpts 

In the midst of a conversation, Merve Emre when asked who inspired her to write Paraliterary; the Making of Bad Readers in Postwar America, she revealed about the genesis of her literary journey. “At its core,” she began, “the motivation stemmed from a curiosity about the global dissemination of literature, particularly American literature, and the associated liberal ideals, especially amidst the Cold War era.”

She further shared the impact of literature on perceptions, particularly during conflicts such as the one between Israel and Palestine. “It’s not just about Israel and Palestine,” Merve remarked thoughtfully. “Fake news messes with what’s true and what’s not, making it hard to tell fact from fiction. But books can help us understand this mess.”

Merve shared insights into the intricacies of reading. “When you annotate a text, you’re basically reading it over and over,” she explained. “This made me question strict ways of reading and made me prefer a more flexible approach that considers many viewpoints at once.”