A review by biancarogers
White on White by Ayşegül Savaş

3.0

White on White by Ayşegül Savaş offers a subtle yet profound examination of art, identity, and the personal stories we create. Told through the reflective lens of a nameless narrator and her encounters with Agnes, an enigmatic tenant, the novel explores how we craft our lives as artistic expressions. Beneath the calm exterior, a simmering tension builds as Agnes shares vivid stories from her past, each peeling back another layer of her intricate self. Savaş masterfully merges art criticism with personal disclosure, setting this quiet unraveling against the minimalist backdrop of the narrator's apartment.

Forgoing a traditional plot, the novel derives its depth from its refined portrayal of human nature and the construction of self-image. The dynamic between Agnes’s detailed stories and the narrator’s quiet curiosity creates a subtle tension that probes authenticity and self-perception. Though the narrative pace may feel unhurried, readers drawn to reflective, contemplative storytelling will find a nuanced meditation on how we perform our lives for others. Like the understated white-on-white artwork it references, Savaş’s novel reveals its depths gradually to those willing to linger in its subtleties.