He deserves the Nobel, and someday he'll get it

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,1-2006060,00.html

Orhan Pamuk publicly faces down the darker elements of his Turkish heritage

He put his own life on the line and he won a fine victory

for Turkish civil society here. My fez is off to this guy.

Pamuk is a major 21st century literary figure. He's the kind

of writer who gets streets and parks and high schools and statues named after him. (Once the authorities have him safely shoveled

under, that is.)

I've got his new novel SNOW on my bedside table.