Elif Shafak, an award-winning British-Turkish novelist, discusses her latest work, 'There are Rivers in the Sky,' which explores the journey of a drop of water across time. She interweaves personal narratives with themes of identity and climate, advocating for a deeper connection with nature. The conversation highlights the power of storytelling in immigrant families, revealing how cultural silences affect memory. Shafak also shares insights on balancing research with creativity, emphasizing the importance of oral traditions and the fluidity of identity in literature.
Elif Shafak's latest novel, 'There Are Rivers in the Sky,' illustrates interconnection through the journey of a single drop of water over millennia.
Shafak advocates for recognizing our complex identities shaped by displacement, emphasizing the importance of emotional awareness in storytelling.
Deep dives
Elif Shafak's Literary Journey
Elif Shafak, the award-winning British-Turkish novelist, is celebrated for her unique blend of folklore and realism, as well as her advocacy for human rights. Her latest novel, 'There Are Rivers in the Sky,' showcases her talent for weaving complex narratives, exploring themes of interconnection through a single drop of water. The book spans millennia, illustrating the journey of water from ancient civilizations to contemporary struggles, thereby highlighting the parallel experiences of diverse characters linked by shared histories. Shafak emphasizes her belief that understanding our interconnectedness is essential to combating the climate crisis and human division.
The Role of Oral Storytelling
Shafak expresses a profound appreciation for oral storytelling traditions, which often capture wisdom that is overlooked within written cultures. She recalls how her grandmother's spiritual approach to storytelling taught her to listen to the natural world, as mountains and rivers have their own voices. This emphasis on oral narratives is especially significant in her exploration of the Yazidi culture, which has historically faced persecution and conveys stories through songs and ballads. By respecting and integrating these oral traditions in her work, Shafak strives to bridge the divide between oral and written cultures, enriching literature with deeper, often silenced, histories.
Navigating Exile and Identity
Shafak's personal experiences with exile and her views on identity play a crucial role in her writing and storytelling approach. Living in the UK after being forced into voluntary exile from Turkey, she explores the concept of multiple belongings, emphasizing how displacement shapes one’s narrative and emotional landscape. She asserts that navigating grief, anger, and loss does not diminish her work but rather adds depth and urgency to her storytelling. By advocating for emotional awareness and the importance of embracing our multifaceted identities, Shafak challenges readers to recognize and understand their own complexities in a rapidly changing world.
Elif Shafak is an award-winning British Turkish novelist whose work has been translated into fifty-five languages. In this episode, from Schwartz Media’s podcast Read This, Michael chats with Elif about her latest novel, There are Rivers in the Sky, which follows a single drop of water across millennia.
Reading list:
The Bastard of Istanbul, Elif Shafak, 2006
The Forty Rules of Love, Elif Shafak, 2009
Honour, Elif Shafak, 2011
10 Minutes 38 Seconds In this Strange World, Elif Shafak, 2019
The Island of Missing Trees, Elif Shafak, 2021
There are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak, 2024
You can find these books and all the others we mentioned at your favourite independent book store.