An American couple's impulsive decision to buy a house on one of Istanbul's Princes' Islands leads first to a series of encounters with architects, bureaucrats, workmen, and disapproving friends and family...but finally to a new life infused with the sense of joy and contentment known as keyif. This small island close to the heart of Istanbul emerges as a microcosm both of Turkey's deep traditions and of its rapid modernization.A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER "ULTIMATE TRAVEL LIBRARY" SELECTION"Great reading that gives a sense of the city.""Life doesn't offer many greater joys than the chance to live in Turkey.... M.A. Whitten gives us a witty, insightful look at today's Turks and what makes them and their country so delightful."Stephen Kinzer, author of Crescent and Star: Turkey between Two Worlds"(This) affectionate and entertaining take on life in Istanbul is a must read for newcomers and old hands alike."Caroline Finkel, author of Osman's Dream"A... story that touched me more than any other written about a love affair with another country.... I highly recommend it."Alev Lytle Croutier, author of Seven Houses and Harem: The World Behind the Veil