Ep 455: Elif Shafak on the resilience of literature

What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

Books, Arts, Leisure

4.8 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2024

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today's guest is the beloved author, Elif Shafak, whose latest title was a 2024 Summer Reading Guide pick. Elif's works are so particular and set very much in a specific time and place, yet they also feel so inclusive. Elif's stories explore universal themes like home and belonging, exile and displacement. She also leverages her Turkish heritage and accesses storytelling traditions that are sometimes unfamiliar to Western readers. Elif is one of Anne's favorite writers working right now, in large part because she attempts things no other writer would think of. Today, they talk about that as well as the mythologies and metaphors that make her books so engrossing. Find the list of titles mentioned in today's show at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/455. If today's episode delivered the type of bookish conversation you'd love more of, come check out our Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. In this vibrant community space, we enjoy live author talks, classes, and special events like the upcoming Our Team's Best Books of the Year event. Sign up or purchase a gift membership for your favorite reader at modernmrsdarcy.com/club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey readers, I'm Ann Bogle, and this is What Should I Read Next?
0:14.0	Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.
0:19.1	What should I read next? We don't get bossy on this show.
0:23.2	What we will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read.
0:34.9	Today, I'm speaking with a beloved contemporary author. If that's the type of bookish conversation
0:39.9	you really love, I'd like to invite you to join us in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club. This is a
0:45.5	vibrant community space where we enjoy regular live author talks, classes like our recent Greek
0:50.8	mythology for readers, our seasonal book previews. I'm working on spring book preview in January right now, and special events like our recent Greek mythology for readers, our seasonal book previews. I'm working on spring
0:54.5	book preview in January right now, and special events like our upcoming team's best books of the year.
1:01.1	Always popular. I think you can understand why. This month, we're reading short stories, which is a
1:06.4	great place to jump in. Even if you're joining us mid-month, or if this month is jam-packed for you
1:11.8	with other events and commitments, you won't feel like you need to read a whole book to participate.
1:16.7	Sign up or purchase a gift membership at modern mrs.darcy.com slash club.
1:24.0	Today's guest is an author many of you know by name, by her work, by reputation. Her books are
1:29.6	beloved worldwide, and I've recommended three of them to readers and three different what
1:34.4	should I read next episodes. Joining me today is Elif Shafak, whose latest title, There Are Rivers
1:39.8	in the Sky, was one of my 2024 summer reading guide picks, and I'm so excited to hear more about its
1:45.6	origins today. Elif has always struck me as a hugely ambitious storyteller. Her works are so
1:52.4	particular, set very much in a specific time and place, focusing on one or sometimes a handful of
1:58.9	individuals, yet they also feel so inclusive.
2:02.4	And I want to hear how she does that. Across her body of work, Elif stories explore universal
2:07.4	themes like home and belonging, exile and displacement, things we can talk about for hours.
	...

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