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Guest Han Ong joins Deborah Treisman to explore Lyudmila Ulitskaya's "The Fugitive," a poignant tale of a dissident Soviet artist, Boris Ivanovich, who flees to a remote village. The discussion highlights the story's unique paradoxical tone, balancing the bleakness of authoritarianism with a resilient, optimistic spirit. Ong analyzes Boris's artistic transformation from political caricature to deeply observational art, influenced by the raw sensuality and wisdom of the elderly villagers, particularly in a memorable bath scene, ultimately leading to an ambiguous, yet personally liberating, conclusion.
Sarah Shun-lien Bynum joins Deborah Treisman to discuss “ Evolution ,” by Joan Silber, which was published in The New Yorker in 2022. Bynum is the author of the novels “ Madeleine Is Sleeping ,” a National Book Award finalist, and “ Ms. Hempel Chronicles ”—and the story collection “ Likes .” She was named one of The New Yorker’s “20 Under 40” fiction writers in 2010. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Valeria Luiselli discusses Julio Cortázar's 'The Night Face Up,' exploring its unique narrative structure, sensory detail, and the blurring lines between dream and reality. The conversation delves into Cortázar's influence on Latin American literature, his concept of 'lo fantástico,' and how the story critiques modernity through the contrasting experiences of its protagonists. Luiselli also shares insights into the challenges and nuances of translating Cortázar's work.
Author Daniyal Mueenuddin joins Deborah Treisman to delve into Peter Taylor's 1963 New Yorker story, 'Two Pilgrims.' They discuss the story's unusual narrative structure, the clash of generations and social classes, and the profound yet unexamined heroism of its protagonists. The conversation also explores southern manners, the refusal to judge, and the lingering questions surrounding the mysterious fire at the story's heart, offering insights into Taylor's literary techniques.
This episode features Tessa Hadley reading John McGahern's "Gold Watch," a powerful story depicting the deeply strained and competitive relationship between a father and son in rural Ireland. It delves into themes of patriarchy, tradition, resentment, and the search for identity, all centered around a symbolic gold watch and the son's evolving new life in the city. The discussion further explores McGahern's unique style and the autobiographical elements often present in his work.
In this episode, Bryan Washington reads Yiyun Li's "A Small Flame" and later joins Deborah Treisman for a compelling discussion on its themes. They delve into Bella's complex character, her search for identity through fabricated narratives, and her fixation on the enigmatic Miss Chu. The conversation explores the story's unique structure, the impact of childhood experiences, and the profound sadness of a life lived without a personal, concrete narrative.
Miriam Toews joins Deborah Treisman to read and analyze Raymond Carver's "Elephant," a story about a man burdened by his financially dependent family. The discussion delves into the narrator's journey from desperation to a profound, if melancholic, acceptance of his responsibilities. Toews highlights Carver's late-life wisdom, the subtle humor in the manipulation, and the fleeting moments of freedom found amidst life's inescapable demands.
In this episode, author Adam Levin joins Deborah Treisman to discuss David Foster Wallace's "Backbone," a posthumously published story that became part of The Pale King. Levin shares his deep admiration for Wallace and delves into why he chose this particular fragment, highlighting its challenging themes of extreme discipline, unwavering faith, and the mysterious nature of personal compulsion. The conversation unpacks the story's unique narrative voice, its use of scientific detail, and the profound, often bittersweet, interpretations of the boy's impossible quest and his father's parallel struggles.
In this episode, Karen Russell reads and discusses Louise Erdrich's short story, "The Stone," featured in The New Yorker. The conversation explores the profound connection between a woman and a seemingly inanimate rock, examining how the stone influences her life and emotional landscape. Russell and host Deborah Treisman delve into Erdrich's masterful blending of human lifespan with deep geological time, and the story's inherent ambiguities regarding agency, identity, and the comforting yet indifferent vastness of nature.
In this episode, Victor Lodato reads Denis Johnson's poignant story, 'The Largesse of the Sea Maiden,' which delves into themes of death, regret, and the elusive quest for connection amidst life's mundanities and mystical moments. Lodato and host Deborah Treisman then discuss Johnson's distinctive voice, the story's unique structure, and its balance of bleakness and lyrical beauty. They explore the author's influence, the narrative's dark humor, and the profound role of storytelling in finding meaning.
Author Lauren Groff reads Elizabeth Hardwick's short story “The Faithful,” a chapter from her novel “Sleepless Nights,” set in 1950s Amsterdam. The story explores complex relationships, particularly the infidelities of a doctor, interwoven with themes of historical aftermath and cultural identity. The discussion delves into Hardwick's unique narrative style, its autobiographical connections, and the enduring nature of human bonds.
This episode features Souvankham Thammavongsa reading and discussing Samanta Schweblin's story "The Size of Things." They explore the story's themes of inheritance, a wealthy man's mysterious regression within a toy store, complex family dynamics, and the subtle power of Schweblin's writing style that invites reader interpretation.
Novelist Edwidge Danticat joins Deborah Treisman to read Zadie Smith's story "Two Men Arrive in a Village." They discuss the story's parable-like structure, its depiction of cyclical violence and vulnerability, the different narrative voices employed, and the complex psychology of both victims and perpetrators. The conversation delves into the story's ending, the powerful figure of the chief's wife, and Smith's goal of implicating the reader in the narrative.
Yiyun Li joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ The Piano Tuner’s Wives ,” by William Trevor, which was published in The New Yorker in 1995. Li has published eight books of fiction, including the novels “ Must I Go ” and “ Book of Goose ,” a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and the story collection “ Wednesday’s Child ,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2024. A new nonfiction work, “ Things in Nature Merely Grow ,” will be published this month. Learn about your a...
David Wright Faladé joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Lu, Reshaping ,” by Madeleine Thien, which was published in The New Yorker in 2021. Falade is the author of the novels “ Black Cloud Rising ” and “ The New Internationals ,” and the nonfiction work “ Fire on the Beach: Recovering the Lost Story of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Lifesavers .” He’s been publishing fiction and nonfiction in The New Yorker since 2020. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Paul Theroux joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ The Necklace ,” by V. S. Pritchett, which was published in The New Yorker in 1958. Theroux’s nonfiction books include “ The Great Railway Bazaar ” and “ On the Plain of Snakes: A Mexican Journey .” A winner of the James Tait Black Award and the Whitbread Prize, he has published thirty-nine books of fiction, including the novels “ The Mosquito Coast ” and “ Burma Sahib ” and the story collections “ Mr. Bones ” and “ The Vanishing Point ,” ...
Anne Enright joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Sierra Leone,” by John McGahern, which was published in The New Yorker in 1977. Enright, a winner of the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and the Man Booker Prize, among others, has published eleven books of fiction, including the story collection “ Yesterday’s Weather ” and the novels “ Actress ” and “ The Wren, The Wren .” She has been publishing fiction in The New Yorker since 2000. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/...
Jennifer Egan joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Kat,” by Margaret Atwood, which was published in The New Yorker in 1990. Egan’s books of fiction include “ The Keep ,” “ A Visit from the Goon Squad ,” “ Manhattan Beach ,” and “ The Candy House .” She is a winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Pulitzer Prize, and the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, among other honors. She has been publishing fiction and nonfiction in The New Yorker since 1989. Learn about...
Ayşegül Savaş joins Deborah Treisman to discuss “ An Abduction ,” by Tessa Hadley, which was published in The New Yorker in 2012. Savaş has published three novels, “ Walking on the Ceiling ,” “ White on White, ” and “ The Anthropologists ,” and one nonfiction book, “ The Wilderness ,” an essay and memoir about the first forty days of motherhood. A collection of stories, “ Long Distance, ” will come out in 2025. She has been publishing fiction in The New Yorker since 2019. Learn about your ad cho...
Aleksandar Hemon joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Drinking Coffee Elsewhere ,” by ZZ Packer, which was published in The New Yorker in 2000. Hemon, a winner of a MacArthur Fellowship and a PEN/W. G. Sebald Award, among others, is the author of eight books, including the novels “ The Lazarus Project ” and “ The World and All It Holds ,” the story collection “ Love and Obstacles ,” and two nonfiction works, “ The Book of My Lives ” and “ My Parents: an Introduction .” Learn about your a...
Rebecca Makkai joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ The Third and Final Continent ,” by Jhumpa Lahiri, which was published in The New Yorker in 1999. Makkai is the author of the story collection “ Music for Wartime ” and the novels “ The Borrower ,” “ The Hundred Year House ,” “ The Great Believers ,” for which she won the Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and “ I Have Some Questions for You ,” which was published last year. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad...
Louise Erdrich joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Haunting Olivia ,” by Karen Russell, which was published in The New Yorker in 2005. Erdrich's novels include “ The Round House ,” which won the National Book Award in 2012, and “ The Night Watchman ,” which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 2021. She will publish a new novel, “ The Mighty Red ,” this fall. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
David Sedaris joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Love Letter ,” by George Saunders, which was published in The New Yorker in 2020. Sedaris is the author of more than a dozen books of essays, memoirs, and diaries, including, most recently, “A Carnival of Snackery” and “Happy-Go-Lucky.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Nathan Englander joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Every Night for a Thousand Years ,” by Chris Adrian, which was published in The New Yorker in 1997. Englander is the author of five books of fiction, including the novel “ kaddish.com ” and the story collection “ What We Talk About When We Talk About Anne Frank ,” which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2013. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
André Alexis joins Deborah Treisman for a special tribute to Alice Munro, who died in May at age ninety-two. Alexis reads and discusses “ Before the Change ,” by Munro, which was published in The New Yorker in 1998. Alexis’s works of fiction include “ Fifteen Dogs ,” which won the Giller Prize, “ Days by Moonlight ,” and the story collection “ The Night Piece ,” which was published in 2020. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
Rachel Cusk joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss "The Bible" and “The Stolen Pigeons” by Marguerite Duras, which were translated from the French, by Deborah Treisman, and published in *The New Yorker* in 2006 and 2007. Cusk is a winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award and the Somerset Maugham Award, and is the author of five books of nonfiction and twelve novels, including "Arlington Park," "Outline," "Transit," "Kudos," and "Parade," which will be published in June. Learn about your ad ...
David Bezmozgis joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Likes,” by Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, which was published in The New Yorker in 2017. Bezmozgis is a filmmaker and writer. He has published two story collections and two novels, “The Free World,” which was a finalist for the Governor General's Award and the Giller Prize, and “The Betrayers,” which won the National Jewish Book Award. He was also chosen as one of The New Yorker's 20 Under 40 in 2010. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.o...
Greg Jackson joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Safari,” by Jennifer Egan, which was published in The New Yorker in 2010. Jackson has published a story collection, “Prodigals,” and a novel “The Dimension of a Cave,” which was one of The New Yorker 's Best Books of 2023. He has been publishing in the magazine since 2014. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
Sterling HolyWhiteMountain joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ Labyrinth ,” by Roberto Bolaño, translated from the Spanish by Chris Andrews, which was published in The New Yorker in 2012. HolyWhiteMountain is a Jones Lecturer at Stanford, and grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
In the two hundredth episode of the New Yorker Fiction Podcast, Rivka Galchen joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “ The Bees, Part 1 ,” by Aleksandar Hemon, which was published in The New Yorker in 2002. Galchen’s books include the story collection “American Innovations” and the novel “Everyone Knows Your Mother Is a Witch.” Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices...
