Madeleine Thien

Madeleine Thien joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Cafeteria in the Evening and a Pool in the Rain,” by Yoko Ogawa, translated from the Japanese by Stephen Snyder, which was published in The New Yorker in 2004. Thien’s books include the novels “Dogs at the Perimeter” and “Do Not Say We Have Nothing,” which won the Governor General’s Literary Award and the Scotiabank Giller Prize.  Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Madeleine Thien, a celebrated Canadian author known for her acclaimed novel 'Do Not Say We Have Nothing', shares her creative journey while crafting her new work, 'The Book of Records'. She candidly discusses the challenges of finding peace amidst public scrutiny and the significance of privacy in her writing process. From cafes in Berlin to the historical streets of Lisbon, Thien reveals how environment and personal experiences shape her characters, while also reflecting on life's lessons of failure, joy, and discovery in storytelling.

Madeleine Thien, a writer, reads and discusses Yoko Ogawa's 2004 story 'The Cafeteria in the Evening and a Pool in the Rain' on The New Yorker Fiction Podcast. Thien admires Ogawa's ability to tap into something beyond language, explores the protagonist's relationship with a dog, speculates on the identities of the characters, and discusses the ending's positive tone despite not being a fairytale ending.