The Drunken Odyssey with John King: A Podcast About the Writing Life

455: Elif Shafak!

Jan 17, 2021
Elif Shafak, an award-winning British-Turkish novelist known for her vibrant explorations of memory and identity, joins the discussion. She delves into the intricate relationship between structure and storytelling, emphasizing how politics can enrich literature without overshadowing it. Shafak highlights the power of inclusive narratives and how they contribute to richer storytelling. The conversation also reflects on the emotional weight of literary endings and the struggles of portraying complex family dynamics in writing, particularly within patriarchal contexts.
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INSIGHT

Politics Deepens But Shouldn't Drive Fiction

  • Politics can deepen literature when it informs questions without driving the story or preaching answers.
  • Writers should create open, nuanced spaces and let readers draw conclusions from complex political themes.
ANECDOTE

Cemetery Of The Companionless Inspired The Book

  • Elif visited an Istanbul cemetery where unnamed, marginalized people are buried only as numbers.
  • She wrote the novel to reverse that dehumanization by giving at least one number a name, story, and individuality.
INSIGHT

Melancholy And Humor Coexist In Storytelling

  • Humor and melancholy coexist in Istanbul and must both appear in truthful storytelling.
  • Compassionate humor sustains sanity and resists attacks on levity in closed societies.
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