New Books in Literature Jennifer Kabat, "Nightshining: A Memoir in Four Floods" (Milkweed Editions, 2025)
Jun 28, 2025
Jennifer Kabat, author of "Nightshining: A Memoir in Four Floods," intertwines personal experiences with broader historical narratives about climate change and community resilience. She discusses the significance of her hometown floods while reflecting on the legacy of the General Electric campus during the Cold War. Kabat also explores Johannes Kepler's impact on science, alongside personal stories that bridge past and present. With a poet's insight, she addresses themes of identity, memory, and the environmental challenges we face today.
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Nested Histories in Place
- Jennifer Kabat uses nested histories of floods to explore climate change grounded in place.
- She connects geological past to present to reveal climate and grief's ongoing impact.
Writing Against Chronology
- Kabat challenges traditional linear narratives and chronology in storytelling.
- She aims to write forms detached from progress to open new ways of thinking about history.
Reading on GE Scientists and Snow
- Kabat reads a passage about GE scientists who invented cloud seeding, blending science, history, and personal loss.
- She connects the invention to her father, scientific dreams, and historical implications.
