In Nicholas Bredie’s review “B-SIDES: LATIFE TEKIN’S “BERJI KRISTIN”, he argues that Flower Hill’s inhabitants’ lack of choice is the defining characteristic that led to them using language to develop agency. He furthers his argument by drawing comparisons to their use of language, like mythology. Explaining and developing an understanding of the world around them. However, it is not their lack of choice, but instead their use of language that is the defining characteristic of the slum dwellers. Throughout Latife Tekin’s Berji Kristin: Tales from the Garbage Hills, the slum dwellers demonstrated many instances of having choices such as the chief elections, listening to the spreading rumors, and the option to relocate their homes. Additionally,…show more content… On page 49 Garbage Grocer is “accused of being slow-witted” whilst on page 50 “the rumor that Liverman’s family would quarrel and disperse” was revived. The squatters chose to believe the rumor regarding Liverman after confirming its validity by questioning his wife and her response that “they always split up every year. but rushed back to embrace one another because they could not stand separation” (Tekin, 51). This reaffirms their belief in the rumor, whereas the statement of Garbage Grocer’s intelligence cannot be confirmed since it is never addressed again by Tekin. The squatters choose to believe in Liverman’s family instability and pay no mind to Garbage Grocer’s intelligence. In addition, the slum dwellers maintain the ability to choose where to live. Following the establishment of Flower Hill as an official district of the city, being renamed as Foundation, the community set out to establish on a new hill which is named Unity Hill. The slum dwellers now have the decision to remain at Flower Hill and pay the 70,000 liras, or relocate to Unity
