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Reviewed by Robert Collier III for Readers' Favorite
In Çağlar Bingöl’s Longing, we follow an Indigenous woman named Hehewuti and her grandson, Huka, through a series of very dramatic historical events. The backdrop is a cold, dangerous frontier where military raids fracture families. After her first home is destroyed by soldiers, young Hehewuti ends up trapped in the mansion of Commander Edmond Fury, where she eventually gives birth to a boy named Albert. Thanks to the general’s kind wife, Angelina, she manages to escape back to her tribe, but she is forced to leave her baby behind with just a half-knitted shoe to link them. Later on, she endures another dangerous winter trek through a snowy mountain pass with other tribal members. Decades pass before Huka receives a supernatural vision instructing him to finish his grandmother’s unfinished business. Can a grandson bridge a separation that lasted an entire lifetime?
Çağlar Bingöl’s Longing is a historical drama that offers a compelling read. The plot development follows a very distinct two-part structure, moving seamlessly from the intense early survival years to an engaging, quest-oriented second half. Bingöl’s prose is engaging and direct, which works brilliantly during the action-driven segments that occur in the mountains. The transition to the grandson’s perspective caught me off guard in the best way possible, adding fresh energy to the enticing storyline. Each main character is written with immense care, particularly the maternal figures whose relationships drive the heart of the story. You get a real sense of how isolated and tucked away those hidden villages are, yet the plot never lags for a second. It is a worthwhile read for anyone who values historical survival accounts, especially if you enjoy a family tale that spans multiple generations.
