Podcast Summary: "Ep 455: Elif Shafak on the Resilience of Literature"
What Should I Read Next?, hosted by Anne Bogel, delves into the literary minds of beloved authors to help readers discover their next great read. In Episode 455, released on November 19, 2024, Anne welcomes the acclaimed author Elif Shafak to discuss her latest work, "There Are Rivers in the Sky," exploring the profound themes of resilience, interconnectedness, and the enduring power of literature.
1. Introduction to Elif Shafak and Her Work
At the outset of the conversation [05:22], Anne Bogel introduces Elif Shafak as a renowned contemporary author whose works have captivated readers worldwide. She highlights Elif's unique storytelling approach—focusing on specific times and places while weaving universal themes such as home, belonging, exile, and displacement. This episode aims to provide listeners with a deep dive into Elif's latest novel and her broader literary philosophy.
Notable Quote:
“We're living in a very fractured and divided world, and it's really important to me that we connect beyond borders through our shared love of stories.”
— Elif Shafak [05:37]
2. The Concept of "There Are Rivers in the Sky"
Elif Shafak's latest novel, "There Are Rivers in the Sky," serves as a central topic of discussion. Anne shares her enthusiasm, mentioning that the book was featured in her 2024 Summer Reading Guide, emphasizing its suitability for summertime immersion due to its expansive and thought-provoking narrative.
Notable Quote:
“This was one of the books that I read and loved and included in the summer reading guide... it's the wonderful kind of storytelling that you can just really get lost in during the summertime.”
— Anne Bogel [05:24]
3. Themes of Water and Interconnectedness
A significant portion of the discussion centers around water as a metaphor for interconnectedness and resilience. Elif describes her novel as a "love letter to water," tracing the journey of a single raindrop across centuries and continents, linking diverse characters and stories.
Notable Quotes:
“Water remembers what it's seen, it remembers the past, but it is humans who forget.”
— Anne Bogel [14:07]
“Water is a great reminder of how interconnected we are as human beings.”
— Elif Shafak [14:07]
4. The Characters Linked by a Raindrop
Elif introduces the novel's three main characters connected by a raindrop: King Arthur of the Suez and the Slums, Salika the hydrologist, and the exploration of the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh. Each character embodies different facets of society and history, illustrating how seemingly disparate lives are intertwined through nature and time.
Notable Quote:
“The drop of water that travels beyond geography and time connects three very different characters in a surprising way.”
— Elif Shafak [11:24]
5. Oral vs. Written Tradition
Elif emphasizes the importance of oral traditions in preserving untold and marginalized stories. She criticizes the compartmentalization of knowledge and advocates for literature that bridges cultural and narrative gaps, ensuring that diverse voices are heard and remembered.
Notable Quote:
“Oral culture in general is usually either belittled or underestimated... what written history conveniently forgets, oral culture remembers.”
— Elif Shafak [25:02]
6. Influence of Charles Dickens
The conversation transitions to the influence of Charles Dickens on Elif's work. She discusses how Dickens-inspired sections in her novel bring a "Dickensian feel," reflecting the social inequalities and conflicts reminiscent of Victorian England—a nod to her admiration for Dickens’ ability to portray complex societies.
Notable Quote:
“In my own literary journey, Dickens himself played an important role... societies that he wrote about, with all the inequalities and conflicts, somehow felt very familiar.”
— Elif Shafak [29:02]
7. Writing in English: Language and Identity
Elif explores her transition from writing in Turkish to English, citing both personal safety concerns and the creative freedoms that English affords her. Writing in a non-native language provided her with cognitive distance, allowing for a fresh perspective on her cultural narratives.
Notable Quotes:
“Writing in English gave me an additional zone of existence or a cognitive distance perhaps, and that made things a little bit lighter for me.”
— Elif Shafak [43:52]
“My connection with the English language is a bit more intellectual, and my connection with the Turkish language is a bit more emotional.”
— Elif Shafak [46:50]
8. Themes of Home, Belonging, and Displacement
Elif delves into her recurring exploration of identity, home, and belonging. She contemplates questions such as the possibility of multiple homelands and the nature of exile, reflecting her own experiences as an immigrant and her belief in fluid, multifaceted identities.
Notable Quote:
“Where is home? Can we have more than one home? Motherland? Portable motherlands or portable homelands?”
— Elif Shafak [38:29]
9. Elif's Writing Process and Reading Preferences
When discussing her writing process, Elif shares that she immerses herself in extensive reading before writing a novel but switches to poetry during the creative phase. Poetry's rhythm and cadence inspire her narrative flow, allowing her intuition to guide the storytelling without the constraints of structured prose.
Notable Quote:
“Before I start writing a novel, I read like a crazy woman. My reading lists are insane. Very eclectic.”
— Elif Shafak [51:25]
10. The Transformative Power of Literature
Elif passionately advocates for the transformative impact of literature, both on readers and writers. She recounts personal anecdotes of how books saved her during her formative years and emphasizes the responsibility of writers to create spaces for empathy, nuanced thinking, and pluralism through their narratives.
Notable Quote:
“Books can change us. I think books also change their writers. I change a lot with every novel that I have written.”
— Elif Shafak [48:47]
Conclusion
The episode concludes with Anne expressing gratitude for Elif's insights and encouraging listeners to explore her works. Elif underscores the resilience of literature in the face of societal challenges and the vital role of readers in keeping stories alive through sharing and conversation.
Final Thought:
“Books have not disappeared, they have survived. They have thrived.”
— Elif Shafak [51:08]
Key Takeaways:
- Interconnectedness Through Water: Elif uses the metaphor of a raindrop to illustrate the deep connections between individuals, history, and nature.
- Oral Tradition’s Importance: Emphasizes the role of oral storytelling in preserving marginalized narratives overlooked by written history.
- Language and Identity: Explores how writing in a non-native language can provide new perspectives and creative freedoms.
- The Power of Literature: Highlights literature’s ability to foster empathy, preserve history, and transform both readers and writers.
Recommended Reading:
- "There Are Rivers in the Sky" by Elif Shafak – Dive into Elif’s latest novel to experience her exploration of history, nature, and human connection.
This episode of What Should I Read Next? offers a rich exploration of Elif Shafak’s literary genius, providing listeners with profound insights into her storytelling methods, thematic focuses, and the enduring resilience of literature in connecting diverse human experiences.