NPR's Book of the Day 'The Devil Is a Southpaw' is a story within a story — or so its narrator says
Dec 3, 2025
Join Brandon Hobson, an acclaimed author and Cherokee Nation citizen, as he delves into his novel, The Devil Is a Southpaw. Hobson explores the complexity of unreliable narration through Milton, a writer whose jealousy toward a fellow artist adds depth to the story. He shares insights from his time in juvenile facilities and discusses how trauma informs his characters. The lush Oklahoma landscape serves as a backdrop for exploring artistic ambition, playful surrealism, and the intricate layers of identity in storytelling.
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Complex Prose As Art And Defense
- Long, twisty sentences can both reveal complex feeling and act as a defensive mask for vulnerability.
- Brandon Hobson frames Milton's ornate prose as intentional craft that also obscures truth.
Unreliable Narrator Wields Language
- Milton is an unreliable narrator who uses obscure vocabulary and long sentences to manipulate readers' impressions.
- His envy of Matthew fuels narrative distortion and competitiveness about artistic success.
Shifting Accounts Of Juvenile Detention
- Milton first claims their detention was for an attempted school shooting but later revises that account in part three.
- Hobson drew on his work in juvenile facilities to portray lingering trauma from incarceration.
