Book of the day: Duygu Asena/ The Woman Has No Name

Her first book Kadının Adı Yok (The woman Has No Name) was published in 1987 but it was banned in 1998 by the government because it was found obscene, dangerous for children, and undermining marriage. After two years of lawsuits, the ban was lifted, and her book was also filmed. Her first book was translated into Germany and the Netherlands. Her second book “Aslında Aşk da Yok (Actually, There Is Also No Love)” is considered as the continuation of her first book.

Duygu Asena (1946-2006) was a journalist, best-selling author, and activist for women’s rights. She worked as editor-in-chief of a women’s magazine named Kadınca between 1978 and 1992. Between 1992 and 1997, she presented a TV program called ‘Ondan Sonra’. She wrote many books such as “Paramparça (Torn in Pieces)”, “Aşk Gidiyorum Demez (Love Does Not Say ‘I Am Leaving’)”, “Aslında Özgürsün (Actually, You Are Free)” , “Aynada Aşk Vardı (There was Love In the Mirror)”, “Değişen Bir Şey Yok (There Is Nothing Changed)”. But she is well known for her book, “Kadının Adı Yok (The woman Has No Name)”.