Highlights of the year in fiction include a conversation with novelist Brett E. Stonelis, reflections on the impact of absent father figures, exploration of displacement and nostalgia by Alexander Hemmon, discussion on technology's impact on imagination and actions, exploration of Zaydi Smith's novel and episodic writing style, and a thank you with book recommendations.
Exploring the past through fiction allows authors to reflect on nostalgia, displacement, and lost completeness.
Fiction serves as a counterbalance to technology, fostering imagination, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the human experience.
Deep dives
Revisiting the Past: Nostalgia and Memory in Literature
During the podcast episode, several authors discussed their exploration of the past in their novels. Brett Easton Ellis's novel, The Shards, set in 1980s LA, reflects on nostalgia and the desire to revisit one's past. Alexander Hemon's book, The World and All That It Holds, follows characters displaced from their home and longing for a lost sense of completeness. Eleanor Catton's Burn and Wood grapples with concerns about technology and its impact on our imagination and humanity.
The Power of Fiction in a Technological Age
The discussion also touched on the topic of technology and its influence on our lives. Eleanor Catton emphasized the need for fiction to counterbalance the negative effects of technology, which she believes can lead to a lack of imagination and a distortion in our perception of action and consequences. Naomi Alderman echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that literature still has the power to provide meaningful insights into the human experience and create empathy in ways that social media cannot.
Historical Fiction and the Novel as a Moral Guide
The podcast episode also explored the genre of historical fiction. Sandra Newman discussed her novel, Julia, a reimagining of George Orwell's 1984 from a different perspective. She highlighted the opportunities historical novels provide to examine the present through the lens of the past. Zadie Smith, in her novel The Fraud, delves into Victorian England, using episodic structure and dialogue that reflects both the past and present. The conversation also touched on the moral underpinnings of fiction, with Richard Ford sharing his belief that evoking emotional responses in readers is crucial for a writer's success.