Ask Penguin

Is death metal the secret to writing a bestseller? with Elif Shafak

Ask Penguin

Show Notes

What can Little Women teach modern boys about sisterhood? How does food become a language of love and grief? How does writing in a third language shape your creative rhythm? And why can finishing a masterpiece feel like a tragedy?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling, award-winning novelist Elif Shafak to talk about her latest novel, In One Brief Moment All Eternity, a vivid reimagining of Gustave Flaubert’s life, told through the women who knew him, including his most famous creation, Emma Bovary.

Together they explore the stories and people history often forgets, why the world needs fiction more than ever, and what drew Shafak to Flaubert’s world.

Plus, we answer your listening questions and, as ever, send you away with plenty of brilliant books to add to your reading pile

Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here

About the guest

Elif Shafak is an award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller. She has published 21 books, 13 of which are novels and her books have been translated into almost 60 languages.The Island of Missing Trees was a finalist for the Costa Award, British Book Awards, RSL Ondaatje Prize and Women’s Prize for Fiction

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