Ayse Kulin writes about the flight of German Jewish people from Hitler’s growing terror on Germany and the Jewish people. Doctors, teachers, and scientists had to flee for their lives and found refuge in Turkey for several years where they contributed to the growing society. This is a story of several generations of Jewish/Turkish people living during tough times and adjusting as much as they could to their unknown land, but never feeling like they were truly a part of it.

The author’s character development is strong. You develop attachments to various characters as they navigate through the challenges of their era. The passage of time and changes in Turkey are brought to life in unique ways as the philosophy of each generation changes. Where one generation cares deeply about politics, the next doesn’t, just as life in Turkey takes hard twists. Their stories were culturally and historically eye-opening while still pulling me in with their real human moments.

Without a Country gave me a new understanding of Turkey as a country and how religion, nationality, and family shape us and how we view the world. I loved the way she wove each generation into the narrative. It was a satisfying read.