“To write a good love letter, you ought to begin without knowing what you mean to say, and to finish without knowing what you have written." So said Jean Jacques Rousseau.
Gowpen means अंजुलि in Hindi. The size of our stomach is the same as gowpen full of food. So Jain monks accept food in their gowpen, at one time. Interesting!
Congratulations Elif on your award and even more importantly, I have enormous respect also for how you deflected from your own success in favour of young Betty and her immigrant father who drove your taxi. For this graciousness, I offer you the greatest award: the one that honours great role models!! Thank you for setting a good example (and for writing fantastic stories!)
Well, I never! It is truly humbling, at the tender age of 67, to be taught new words in my mother tongue by a relative "new kid on the block"; thank you, Elif, for this wonderful word, 'gowpen'! OED tells me that it is (Northern) dialect, deriving from Old Norse, via Middle English, which is probably why I'd never come across it, being a Southern Counties lad myself (ha ha!)
Your story of the "gentle-mannered" Eritrean taxi driver quite literally moved me to tears (being a bit of a sensitive soul), especially since it happened during World Refugee week. Your kindness to his daughter will not only change her life but will, I believe, enhance your own (spiritual) journey through this life.
If we would all render even the tiniest act of (random) kindness at least once a day, we would, together, transform society into a beautiful, caring global community. Bless you!
Beautiful. I too will chat with cab drivers. The insights they offer on the world and who takes up space in their cars is so interesting. On a recent cab ride in Brighton I left with a handful of the most delicious nuts and one perfect date as the driver and I bonded over a love of food. At 8am in the morning it was a nourishing start to the day in more ways than can be imagined.
Ah i forgot about one unread book of Elif Shafak on my unread pile of books! and got so excited about the prospect of reading it-oh how i love your stories ❤️
Congratulations, dear Elif, on this recognition from the British Academy — so well deserved!
And thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story of your encounter with the taxi driver and — even though she wasn’t there — with his daughter, Betty.
Through your imagery, you opened up a gowpen of humanity, empathy, intimacy, tenderness, and intercultural connection between the two of you.
And you have opened up that space for us too: a gowpen of love, gentleness, and consciousness held in the hollow of our cupped hands — not only our own, but also the shared cupped hands we can form with other human beings. Gracias from Lima, Perú!
Congratulations on your award and for talking with that lovely cab driver and discovering Betty and her love of books and writing. For me people with refugee backgrounds write the most interesting stories filled with love and things lost. I hope Betty becomes a writer 🙏
Congratulations on winning the British Academy President’s Medal. Also, teaching me the word "gowpen. " Although I was born and bred in the English East Midlands, I've slowly moved in a northerly direction where the Angles outnumbered the Saxons. I'm 73, and I still love learning new words. I've always been an avid reader and writer, so I am thrilled that youngsters like Betty will carry the torch into the future, long after I am gone. Every writer needs a father like hers.
Congratulations Elif ! I am a fan girl of your writing .. loved “40 rules … “ and this one too now … a story that has so many heartening elements to it .. such stories when shared give hope and are so needed . A gowpen of love is all we need at a time , as it multiplies at a compounded rate! Thankyou and I am sure Betty is buoyed enough to continue her journey as a writer.
Gowpen means अंजुलि in Hindi. The size of our stomach is the same as gowpen full of food. So Jain monks accept food in their gowpen, at one time. Interesting!
That's interesting to know, too. Thanks for sharing.
Congratulations Elif on your award and even more importantly, I have enormous respect also for how you deflected from your own success in favour of young Betty and her immigrant father who drove your taxi. For this graciousness, I offer you the greatest award: the one that honours great role models!! Thank you for setting a good example (and for writing fantastic stories!)
Well, I never! It is truly humbling, at the tender age of 67, to be taught new words in my mother tongue by a relative "new kid on the block"; thank you, Elif, for this wonderful word, 'gowpen'! OED tells me that it is (Northern) dialect, deriving from Old Norse, via Middle English, which is probably why I'd never come across it, being a Southern Counties lad myself (ha ha!)
Your story of the "gentle-mannered" Eritrean taxi driver quite literally moved me to tears (being a bit of a sensitive soul), especially since it happened during World Refugee week. Your kindness to his daughter will not only change her life but will, I believe, enhance your own (spiritual) journey through this life.
If we would all render even the tiniest act of (random) kindness at least once a day, we would, together, transform society into a beautiful, caring global community. Bless you!
Beautiful. I too will chat with cab drivers. The insights they offer on the world and who takes up space in their cars is so interesting. On a recent cab ride in Brighton I left with a handful of the most delicious nuts and one perfect date as the driver and I bonded over a love of food. At 8am in the morning it was a nourishing start to the day in more ways than can be imagined.
"A nourishing start to the day in more ways than can be imagined" is a beautiful way of putting it. How lovely.
Thank you. What draws you to writing? ✍️
Ah i forgot about one unread book of Elif Shafak on my unread pile of books! and got so excited about the prospect of reading it-oh how i love your stories ❤️
We are waiting for the first novel by the young BETTY!!!
Congratulations, dear Elif, on this recognition from the British Academy — so well deserved!
And thank you so much for sharing this beautiful story of your encounter with the taxi driver and — even though she wasn’t there — with his daughter, Betty.
Through your imagery, you opened up a gowpen of humanity, empathy, intimacy, tenderness, and intercultural connection between the two of you.
And you have opened up that space for us too: a gowpen of love, gentleness, and consciousness held in the hollow of our cupped hands — not only our own, but also the shared cupped hands we can form with other human beings. Gracias from Lima, Perú!
Betty reminds me of the protagonist in The Island of Missing Trees.
Yes, you mean the brave Ada?
You got it!
A gowpen of love in ALL of us could change the world, I think, I hope, I wish. As always, thank you.
Congratulations on your award and for talking with that lovely cab driver and discovering Betty and her love of books and writing. For me people with refugee backgrounds write the most interesting stories filled with love and things lost. I hope Betty becomes a writer 🙏
Congratulations on winning the British Academy President’s Medal. Also, teaching me the word "gowpen. " Although I was born and bred in the English East Midlands, I've slowly moved in a northerly direction where the Angles outnumbered the Saxons. I'm 73, and I still love learning new words. I've always been an avid reader and writer, so I am thrilled that youngsters like Betty will carry the torch into the future, long after I am gone. Every writer needs a father like hers.
Ms Shafak, Congratulations! Yes ! Let’s all look out for The Bettys and hold them in our hearts!
Congratulations on the well deserved award, and thank you for sharing this gorgeous story. Betty, we’re waiting for you here! 🫶
Wow, what a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing Betty and her father with us and us with them.
Yes, you do. You bring us gowpen of story. And thanks for the love you sent to Betty, those gowpen of kindness, they will change her life.
Congratulations Elif ! I am a fan girl of your writing .. loved “40 rules … “ and this one too now … a story that has so many heartening elements to it .. such stories when shared give hope and are so needed . A gowpen of love is all we need at a time , as it multiplies at a compounded rate! Thankyou and I am sure Betty is buoyed enough to continue her journey as a writer.