The New Yorker: The Writer's Voice - New Fiction from The New Yorker

Greg Jackson Reads “The Honest Island”

Nov 3, 2024

Greg Jackson, author of the acclaimed story collection “Prodigals” and the novel “The Dimensions of a Cave,” reads his captivating tale “The Honest Island.” Listeners are taken on an enigmatic journey with Krant, who awakens on a memory-less island. The story tackles themes of isolation, identity, and the struggles of communication as Krant interacts with locals and a special girl. As he confronts his internal confusion, the lush yet haunting landscape serves as a backdrop for a profound exploration of connection and self-discovery.

39:01

Creator website

Episode guests

Greg Jackson

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Krant's struggle with amnesia on the isolated island highlights the profound connection between memory and personal identity.

The interactions between Krant and the island's inhabitants reveal themes of isolation and the challenges of communication in forging relationships.

Deep dives

The Mystery of Memory

The protagonist, Krant, struggles with amnesia while living on a small, isolated island. His inability to remember how he arrived or who he was before deepens his feelings of disconnection and solitude. Daily routines, such as walking the island and having breakfast at a local inn, provide him with some structure, yet they often feel futile against the backdrop of his forgotten past. This ongoing struggle illustrates the profound impact of memory on identity and the difficulty of feeling grounded in a life that seems to lack history.

Intro

2min

Ebbing Memories on a Solitary Island

8min

Encounter on the Island: Confronting Memory and Existence

23min

A Descent into Dawn: A Journey Across the Island

4min

Reflections upon the Island

4min

Greg Jackson reads his story “The Honest Island,” from the November 11, 2024, issue of the magazine. Jackson is the author of a story collection, “Prodigals,” for which he received the National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35 award, and a novel, “The Dimensions of a Cave,” which was published last year.

Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more