In the heart of Ottoman Istanbul, where palace balconies intertwine with the breath of history, and the radiance of the court blends with the silence of artists, a secret is born unlike any other. A painting hangs on a museum wall, before which Aylin stands as if contemplating a gateway leading to another time, to a story buried within the folds of history.
Light and shadow to a story that still pulsates beneath layers of old paint.
In the background of the story: a jewel called “The Shining Planet,” on which a verse of light was engraved, and it moved in the caravan of the Sultan’s trusts towards the two holy mosques, carrying a promise that was not disclosed, and a hidden longing that no one revealed.
The threads of the story intertwine between the time of “Kezkin,” the painter who lived under the protection of the Ottoman state and drew the features of destiny with his brush, and the time of “Aylin,” who seeks meaning and discovers that every moment she spends in front of the painting opens a new door within her.
This novel takes you on a journey through the notebooks of travelers, the vaults of museums, and the corridors of memory, to ask, without fanfare, whether we search for secrets because we want to understand the world, or because we are searching for ourselves in it?
Can deferred love leave its mark on a stone, in the sparkle of a diamond, or in the blink of an eye?
We don't know her, but she knows us?
“The Painter’s Secret” is a journey of reflection on the meaning of loyalty, on the beauty of things that are not understood at first glance, and on the passion that pulls the heart towards the shadows of the past to reshape the present.
A novel written to be read slowly and contemplated as one would a work of art… It doesn't reveal everything at once, but whispers to those who listen.

Our protagonist is a bookseller living on a small island, going through a period of isolation and despair after the loss of his wife. Life seems to have lost its meaning for him, until a small child appears on his shop's doorstep one rainy night, bearing a new story that changes the course of his life forever.

"The Stubbornness of Happiness: The Life Story of a Bookseller" is not just a book about books; it's about life in all its complexity and beauty. It reminds us that every person has a story worth telling, and that stories have the power to heal our wounds and rekindle the spark of hope within us.

Through this book, we learn that happiness can be born from pain, and that solitude can transform into new meanings of friendship and love. "The Stubbornness of Happiness" teaches us that it doesn't matter how many times we fall; what matters is how we find the strength to rise again, and how we open our hearts to the stories that can change us.

If you're looking for a book that touches your soul, stirs your emotions, and makes you believe in the power of stories and books to change our lives, then "The Stubbornness of Happiness: The Life Story of a Bookseller" is the perfect choice. Let's remember that each of us has a story worth telling, and that life, no matter how difficult, is always full of chapters worth exploring.

Prepare for a journey that takes you to the depths of the human soul, where stories are not mere tales, but bridges that connect us, teach us, comfort us, and inspire us. "The Stubbornness of Happiness" is not just a read; it's a life-changing experience.