New story collection 'Har Mar' explores identity, migration and Minnesota
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A once-iconic shopping center in Roseville serves as the backdrop for a new short story collection exploring migration, identity and belonging.
“Har Mar,” released in July, is the debut collection from author Hilal Isler. The interconnected stories follow women whose lives span Turkey and Minnesota as they navigate family, grief, love and the challenges of building a life between cultures.
From a nanny hoping to leave her life in Istanbul behind to a bookseller coping with loss through an unlikely relationship, each character searches for connection while confronting uncertainty.
MPR News host Kelly Gordon spoke with Isler about the inspiration behind “Har Mar,” why she chose the Roseville shopping center as the book's title and setting, and what she hopes readers take away from the collection.
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