Book Club: Books That Spark Thinking on Production
Book: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running - Haruki Murakami
Time: 18:30 - 19:45
Speaker: Ayşe Burçak
Moderator: Esra Ece Kuleci
In this gathering, we will meet with writer Ayşe Burçak 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.
Ayşe Burçak graduated from Istanbul University’s Faculty of Law in 2018. Her short stories have appeared in literary magazines, and her collection En Beklemediğin Anda was recognized at the 2024 Varlık Magazine Yaşar Nabi Nayır Awards. Her debut book, Aşklar ve Hayaletler, was published by İletişim Yayınları in 2025. She lives and works in Istanbul.
* 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.