New Books Network Janet Burroway, "Simone in Pieces" (U Wisconsin Press, 2025)
Nov 3, 2025
Janet Burroway, an acclaimed novelist and writing professor, discusses her new novel, *Simone in Pieces*, which tells the haunting story of a Belgian orphan shaped by trauma and memory. She shares how the novel evolved from a satire to a reflection on refugee experiences in mid-20th century America. Burroway delves into the challenges of reconstructing Simone's fragmented life and the impact of relationships she forms along the way, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the quest for connection in an ever-changing world.
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Origin Story Of The Novel
- Janet Burroway began Simone in Pieces from a short story that unexpectedly turned into grief and a character whose life she had to fully imagine.
- She realized the woman's whole life in one night and her husband told her, "that's your next novel," though it took nearly 30 years to finish.
America's Changing Welcome To Refugees
- Burroway frames Simone as one of several refugees whom America once welcomed, contrasting past openness with present attitudes.
- She draws on personal proximity to refugees to justify exploring displacement and assimilation across decades.
Johnny Purdy's Formative Visit
- Johnny Purdy, an American soldier, narrates a formative episode where he notices Simone's hunger to learn English and validates her.
- The encounter is charged because Johnny is married and confused by attraction while Simone seeks recognition and language skills.
