Book Club: Books That Spark Thinking on Production
Book: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami
Time: 18:30 - 20.00
Speaker: Melisa Kesmez
Moderator: Esra Ece Kuleci
In this gathering, we will meet with writer Melisa Kesmez and, drawing on Murakami’s personal essay book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running—which reflects on his writing life, passion for running, and the way these two practices nourish one another—we will discuss how bodily movement transforms mental production. We will explore the spaces that rhythm, repetition, and solitude open up within the writing practice, and consider running not merely as a physical activity but as a companion that clarifies thought, sharpens focus, and rebuilds the courage to produce. Together, we will reflect on the transitions between stopping and continuing, between blockage and flow.
Melisa Kesmez was born in September 1980 in Istanbul. She studied Sociology at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University and received training in writing, journalism, and photography. Her cultural and arts articles and interviews have appeared in the print media. She has been involved in theatre projects as a translator and dramaturg. She is the author of five books—Atları Bağlayın Geceyi Burada Geçireceğiz, Bazen Bahar, Nohut Oda, Küçük Yuvarlak Taşlar, and Çiçeklenmeler—as well as a children’s book titled Anneanne Gezegeni. Bazen Bahar received an Honorable Mention at the 2017 Notre Dame de Sion Literary Awards, while Nohut Oda was awarded the 65th Sait Faik Short Story Award. She is Nil’s mother.
* The event will take place at Frankeştayn Kitabevi.
Address: Hacımimi, Lüleci Hendek Cd. 16/A, 34425 Beyoğlu/İstanbul
* To participate in this talk, you can register via the “Register” button on the event page and obtain your free invitation. Registrations will open five days before the event (on April 14, 2026, at 18:30), at which time the “Register” button will become visible. Participation is free and limited to 50 attendees.