Rachel Khong, author of 'Real Americans', discusses human connection in her novel and the struggle to capture life experiences in writing. She shares insights on balancing personal writing with a journalism career and embracing imperfections in communication.
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Quick takeaways
Exploring American narratives of ambition and immigrant experiences in Real Americans by Rachel Khong.
Challenges of understanding others and self in human relationships depicted in the novel.
Acknowledging the blend of dedication and creativity needed for novel writing.
Deep dives
Exploring Different Narratives
The book delves into various American narratives surrounding ambition, immigrant experiences, and romantic ideals. It examines how individuals construct their identities against the backdrop of these prevailing narratives, seeking a sense of belonging and self-understanding amid societal influences.
Navigating Human Relationships
The narrative explores the complexities of human relationships, highlighting the challenges of truly knowing and understanding others. It also reflects on the difficulties individuals face in knowing themselves amidst contrasting perspectives and overlapping experiences.
Balancing Labor and Magic
The author reflects on the craft of writing, acknowledging the blend of dedication and ineffable creativity required to produce a novel. The process involves embracing imperfections, finding space for creativity amidst noise, and nurturing the mysterious fusion of labor and magic that defines the writing experience.
Seeking Self-Understanding
Through the writing process, the author delves into self-discovery and introspection, using writing as a means to navigate internal thoughts and emotions. The act of writing serves as a vehicle to deepen self-awareness and explore aspects of identity and consciousness.
Influencing Nonfiction Work
The author discusses how experiences from nonfiction writing ventures, such as an oyster farming piece, often influence and enrich the fictional worlds created. Interactions with the external world and varied narratives encountered through nonfiction work inform and shape the depth and authenticity of the author's fiction.
Rachel Khong is a journalist and author whose latest novel is Real Americans.
“It's about the ways in which we miss each other as human beings and can't fully communicate what it is like to be ourselves. … And I think that's what makes it so interesting to me, to work on a novel and to spend so much time trying to get down on the page what it feels like to be a human being who's alive. … I think the effort itself is what human relationships are.”