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May 7, 2021
Leave the World Behind
A Vacation Home at the End of the World
Summary
An interview with Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind (2020), a finalist for the National Book Award. Rumaan and I discuss how all fiction must now be climate fiction, being a promiscuous reader, the fallacy of writing from “your roots”, why there is no autofiction of black women’s experience, and the genius of J.M. Coetzee.
Books Recommended in this episode:
Rumaan’s novels: Rich and Pretty, That Kind of Mother, Leave the World Behind
Rumaan Alam Recommends:
- J.M. Coetzee, Disgrace
- David Gates, Jurnigan
- Anita Brookner, Visitors
- Michelle Houellebecq, Elementary Particles
- Don Delillo, Running Dog
Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro as World Literature, is under contract with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers.
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Your Host
Chris Holmes
Chris Holmes is Chair of Literatures in English and Associate Professor at Ithaca College. He writes criticism on contemporary global literatures. His book, Kazuo Ishiguro as World Literature, is under contract with Bloomsbury Publishing. He is the co-director of The New Voices Festival, a celebration of work in poetry, prose, and playwriting by up-and-coming young writers.