Elif Shafak, a renowned Turkish-British novelist and activist, engages in a thought-provoking discussion about the intricate ties between national identity and storytelling. She reflects on the generational pain from conflict and the challenges of expressing creativity in oppressive environments. The conversation emphasizes the significance of understanding cultural roots and confronting historical trauma. Additionally, Enuma Okoro shares her affection for New York City, while Tim Harford suggests a more relaxed approach to productivity amidst life's uncertainties.
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insights INSIGHT
The Power of Words
Elif Shafak emphasizes curiosity, not bravery, as her driving force in asking difficult questions.
In cultures lacking free speech, words and stories hold even greater significance.
insights INSIGHT
Fiction as a Bridge
Elif Shafak uses fiction to facilitate nuanced conversations about complex issues.
The Island of Missing Trees explores the challenge of telling stories about divided lands without resorting to nationalism.
insights INSIGHT
Generational Trauma
Elif Shafak discusses generational differences in processing trauma and memory.
Younger generations often ask the most important questions about identity and ancestral stories.
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The novel, written by Elif Shafak, centers around Asya Kazancı, a nineteen-year-old woman living in Istanbul, and Armanoush Tchakhmakhchian, an Armenian-American who travels to Istanbul to discover her roots. The story delves into the violent past of Turkey, particularly the 1915 Armenian deportations and massacres, and how these events impact the lives of the characters. The narrative is set in both Turkey and the United States, highlighting the complex relationships between the characters and their cultural identities[1][3][4].
Sula
Toni Morrison
Published in 1973, 'Sula' by Toni Morrison is a novel that delves into the intricate and often fraught relationship between two childhood friends, Sula Peace and Nel Wright, growing up in the African American community of the Bottom in Ohio. The narrative explores themes of friendship, identity, freedom, and the consequences of societal expectations. Sula, who challenges traditional norms and lives a life of independence, and Nel, who opts for a conventional life as a wife and mother, find their bond tested by a tragic incident and later by Sula's affair with Nel's husband. The novel questions the terms 'good' and 'evil', highlighting the ambiguity and complexity of human relationships and the impact of societal judgments. Through the characters' experiences, Morrison examines issues of motherhood, black masculinity, and the constraints faced by black people in a small-town environment[1][4][5].
The Island of Missing Trees
Elif Shafak
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak is a novel that weaves together the stories of multiple generations affected by the turbulent history of Cyprus. The narrative is partly told through the voice of a fig tree, which observes the lives of a young Greek Cypriot and a Turkish Cypriot couple, Kostas and Defne, who are separated by war. The story also follows Ada, a teenager in London, as she seeks to understand her family's history and ancestry. The novel explores themes of war, division, love, loss, and the search for identity and healing, highlighting the resilience of both human and natural life in the face of trauma and conflict.
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Hunter S. Thompson
Hunter S. Thompson's works are characterized by a distinctive gonzo journalism style, blending subjective experience with factual reporting. His writing is known for its immersive, first-person narratives, often infused with humor, satire, and a strong sense of place. Thompson's works frequently explore themes of counterculture, politics, and the American Dream, often with a cynical and darkly comedic tone. His most famous works include "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" and "Hell's Angels." Thompson's influence on journalism and literature is significant, inspiring generations of writers to embrace a more personal and subjective approach to storytelling.
This week we bring you one of the most popular episodes from our archive: a conversation with Elif Shafak, the most widely read woman novelist in Turkey. She and Lilah discuss national identity, the generational pain of conflict, and writing in countries that don't have freedom of speech. This conversation feels especially poignant today, as the war in Ukraine becomes even more devastating. This episode also features columnist Enuma Okoro on loving our cities, and economist Tim Harford on feeling less pressure to get everything done.
We’ll be back with a new episode, on the cultural side of the war in Ukraine, next week.
The first US FT Weekend Festival is on Saturday, May 7 in Washington, DC. To attend virtually or in person, buy tickets at http://ft.weekendfestival.com – use the discount code FTFriends2022 for 10% off.
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Sound design and mixing is by Breen Turner, with original music by Metaphor Music.
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