Stories, Hope, and the Power of Words: An Evening with Margaret Atwood and Elif Shafak

When two of the world's most celebrated literary voices share the same stage, the result is nothing short of magical. Last night, I had the privilege of witnessing Margaret Atwood and Elif Shafak in conversation at The Trouble Club, and it was a masterclass in storytelling, hope, and human connection.

Introducing the Authors

Margaret Atwood is the author of more than 50 books of fiction, poetry, and critical essays. Her most recent record-breaking novel, The Testaments—the sequel to her 1985 classic The Handmaid's Tale—won the 2019 Booker Prize. With the recent final season of the TV adaptation of The Handmaid's Tale, Atwood's prescient prose depicting a dystopian future feels more relevant than ever. In October 2019, she was presented with the Companion of Honor Award by Queen Elizabeth II, making her only the third Canadian to receive the distinction.

Elif Shafak, a British-Turkish novelist and storyteller, has published 21 books, 13 of which are novels, translated into 58 languages. Her works have received international acclaim: The Island of Missing Trees was a finalist for the Costa Award, British Book Awards, and Women's Prize for Fiction, while 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and named Blackwell's book of the year.

Together, these two authors have written 71 books—and the world is undoubtedly richer for it.

On the Power of Gathering

Elif opened with a reminder that felt especially poignant in today's world:

"In a world like this, the fact that we're coming together—this gathering of minds and hearts—is very precious."

Her words captured the essence of the evening: the power of storytelling not just to entertain, but to connect, reflect, and heal.

Storytelling Across Generations and Borders

Both authors reflected on the formative influence of women in their families and the way stories are handed down. Shafak shared:

"It's like when you want to see a painting more closely, you don't take a step forward, you take a step back. Distance—through language, geography, or perspective—helps us see the picture more carefully. Sometimes, in both art and life, stepping back provides the clarity that leaning in cannot."

Atwood recounted her family history and poetic musings:

"It's the insects that keep it going."

Small observations, she explained, connect us to the larger patterns of life—reminding us that noticing the small details is critical, whether in literature or in the world around us.

On Hope, Optimism, and Resilience

A highlight of the evening was their conversation about navigating difficult times. Atwood drew a distinction that resonated deeply:

"Optimism is thinking that everything's just going to be fine and you don't have to do anything to make it be fine. Hope is the feeling that things could be better but you're going to have to work at it."

Shafak reflected on the uncertainty of the modern world:

"We're all going through liquid times. What is happening in one country can happen elsewhere."

In a world of constant flux, hope and effort—not passive optimism—are what sustain us.

On Human Connection and the Role of Fiction

Both authors spoke about the unique power of fiction to foster empathy:

Shafak: "When we read a story, we journey into someone else's psyche, and we look at the world from that perspective. It's an incredibly humbling exercise for the mind and for the spirit."

Atwood: "Reading a literary work of fiction is the closest that you can come to being inside the mind of another human being… because you are the set designer. The music on the page is the same for everybody but each performer plays it differently and that is what reading is. You are the musician of the text."

They reminded us that books are more than words on a page—they are lifelines, ways to connect across borders, time, and experience.

Closing Reflections

As the applause echoed, it was clear that storytelling is not just entertainment—it's survival, empathy, and a bridge between minds and hearts. Both authors reminded the audience of the enduring power of stories to teach, heal, and inspire:

"Every character in a book has a time and space, and every person on earth has a time and space which is different from those of other people. So that's a memoir. It's what you remember in a setting, and of course you remember the setting very well." — Margaret Atwood

If you believe in the power of stories, in hope over simple optimism, and in forging connections across time, pick up any book by Margaret Atwood or Elif Shafak—and let yourself be changed.

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