Kiran Desai
Booker Prize–winning novelist known for The Inheritance of Loss; author of The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, the subject of this episode's interview.
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Oct 25, 2025 • 46min
Two decades later, Booker Prize winner Kiran Desai returns
Kiran Desai, the celebrated Booker Prize–winning novelist, discusses her long-awaited new novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny, after nearly two decades. She reflects on the intense pressure of literary prizes and the evolving landscape of South Asian writing. Desai delves into how migration and loneliness shape her characters and the weight of history in storytelling. She also examines the impact of political issues like Hindu nationalism on her work and the role of literature in fostering empathy, particularly in a culturally rich but complex India.
Nov 2, 2025 • 54min
Who will win the Booker Prize?
Join Susan Choi, an award-winning novelist, as she explores cross-cultural family dynamics and the Zainichi Korean community in Flashlight. Kiran Desai, a former Booker Prize winner, discusses loneliness and globalization in her long-gestating novel, The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. David Szalay shares insights on capturing realism and physicality in Flesh, while Ben Markovits reveals how his own lymphoma diagnosis influenced the road-trip narrative of The Rest of Our Lives. A deep dive into themes of identity, illness, and the human experience awaits!
