When my wife's parents come visit us from Moldova they usually bring over a box of Turkish Delight; it's always unveiled with cries of "Turkish Delight for the young prince! Ha ha ha!"
C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
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Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#12Back when I read the Narnia books at the age of 11 and 12, I remember reading of lands and people other than Narnia as being portrayed negatively. Back then I did not know, who the lands were being referred to, but the more I started reading into other cultures, the more I found a strong resonance with the cultures of Iran and Turkey.
Turkish delight was served by the evil witch and it turned Edmund unto a spell. In other books, I cannot remember which one, but there is the story of being lost and traveling through other lands and falling into the control of shahs and pashas.
The Narnia books were C.S. Lewis's attempt at turning thinking, particularly child thinking, against the cultures found in the Middle East.
I found a great article that connects a lot of the references and provides background behind C.S. Lewis. https://prunusdulcis.wordpress.com/2010/03/05/baklava-in-bea...
I am now perplexed with recommending or not recommending this book. It was a terrific joy for me, very much like Harry Potter is a joy for children these days.
Edit: corrected link.
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#13How can you _not_ like Turkish delight? I have some every time I see it --- which is rarely, granted.
textures nasty
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#14Another obscure and interesting Atlasobscura article. Turkish Delight are great indeed and no, had not heard about them before Narnia either.
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#15Proper Turkish delight is never coated with icing sugar, but always starch. I don't know where the author had it either, but it is nowhere near being "very, very sweet." Hell, I can't even imagine what an American may consider as being too sweet!
Source: Born and raised in Turkey.
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#16As a child, I really liked the nut flavored Turkish delight. I never liked the regular rosewater flavor though.
Who cares?
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#17Proper Turkish delight is never coated with icing sugar, but always starch. I don't know where the author had it either, but it is nowhere near being "very, very sweet." Hell, I can't even imagine what an American may consider as being too sweet! Source: Born and raised in Turkey.
The stuff you get in the UK is disgusting, it's a sugary jelly with a very strong artificial rose flavour. Sticky sweet goo.
I've had the proper stuff in Turkey and it's not sweet, it's not sticky or gooey. The flavour, at least of the stuff I had, was subtle.
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#18Back when I read the Narnia books at the age of 11 and 12, I remember reading of lands and people other than Narnia as being portrayed negatively. Back then I did not know, who the lands were being referred to, but the more I started reading into other cultures, the more I found a strong resonance with the cultures of Iran and Turkey. Turkish delight was served by the evil witch and it turned Edmund unto a spell. In…
There was some kind of cruel god among the desert people in one of the books too - like a bird-of-prey version of Aslan
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#19Haters gonna hate.
I love Turkish Delight.
My wife had to travel to Turkey for work and frequently brought it back. I really like it. Actually in general, Turkish food is one of my favorite cuisines worldwide. I also like a lot of Indian sweets that many Americans find to sweet. No accounting for taste.
Re: C.S. Lewis's Greatest Fiction: Telling Kids They’d Like Turkish Delight (2015)
#20Turkish Delight is amazing, what are you talking about? Rose water?! It's amazing!!!