George Salis: Many people consider Darconville’s Cat ‘revenge fiction.’ As I understand it, you believe that revenge is not only the main theme of world literature but also a primary impetus for art. Is the notion of revenge the ‘best’ impulse when pursuing art, or are there others you deem worthier? What are some great novels that bypass the revenge impulse?
Continue reading “The Apocalypse of Wordlessness: An Interview with Alexander Theroux”
George Salis: Can you talk about your love of Gĩkũyũ, your native language? You started writing your fiction in English so do you still have a soft spot for English despite its connection to colonialism?
Continue reading “Round the Decay of That Colossal Wreck: An Interview with Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o”
Editor’s Note: Wendy Walker has appeared twice so far in my column Invisible Books. I first covered her debut collection of short stories, The Sea-Rabbit (Sun & Moon Press, 1987), then I reviewed her novel The Secret Service (Sun & Moon Press, 1992). I’ve now had the pleasure of corresponding with Wendy, so please enjoy this interview with a true talent and a delightful person. All of the accompanying art is by Wendy Walker. The featured photo above is by Wendy Walker and Tom La Farge.
Continue reading “Tree People or Sea People: An Interview with Wendy Walker”
George Salis: You have a wonderful book vlogging channel on YouTube called Leaf by Leaf. How did it come about? I was there pretty much at the beginning. The first video of yours I watched was about Jim Gauer’s Novel Explosives and in that one you’re not in front of the camera. Did the notion of putting yourself out there prove to be a bit of a hurdle?
Continue reading “Intelligent Seasoning: An Interview with Chris Via of Leaf by Leaf”
Editor’s note: In September of this year, Steven Moore’s new book, Alexander Theroux: A Fan’s Notes, will be released by Zerogram Press. Among other things, I hope this interview whets your appetite for Theroux’s books and that you spend a healthy part of the year reading or rereading him in preparation for Moore’s book. Here is a description of Alexander Theroux: A Fan’s Notes: “Since the publication of his first novel in 1972, Alexander Theroux has won great acclaim for his dazzling style and forceful intellect. That first novel, Three Wogs, was named Book of the Year by Encyclopedia Britannica, and his second, Darconville’s Cat, was nominated for the National Book Award. Since then he has gone on to publish 20 more books and has been the subject of several interviews and academic studies. This is the first book-length study of Theroux’s complete body of work-novels, fables and short stories, nonfiction books, poetry, journalism-concluding with a chapter on his contentious relationship with his best-selling brother Paul Theroux. Critic Steven Moore, who has known Theroux for nearly forty years and helped with the publication of some of his books, illuminates Theroux work in a scholarly yet accessible style. While appreciative of most of what Theroux has written, Moore doesn’t shirk from what he regards as some of his weaker efforts in order to provide a balanced evaluation of this unique writer. Moore’s book will appeal to Theroux’s fan base as well as to students of modern American literature”
Continue reading “Giants in the Earth: An Interview with Steven Moore”
George Salis: You’ve been working on an ambitious project, a 1000 story cycle titled Pandora’s Bluff that you’ve nearly finished. What can you tell me about it? It’s one story less than the Arabian Nights. Do the Nights have any influence on this project?
Continue reading “One Thousand and None Nights: An Interview with Rhys Hughes”
George Salis: What was the impetus for your upcoming novel Cynicism Management?
Continue reading “Devious Rock ‘n’ Roll Ditties: An Interview with Bori Praper”
George Salis: What was the initial shiver of inspiration behind your upcoming novel Undertones?
Continue reading “Kangaroo in a Dinner Jacket: An Interview with L.S. Popovich”
George Salis: What was the impetus for your new novel Le Overgivers au Club de la Résurrection?
Continue reading “Pushing the Brain Deeper: An Interview with Jim Meirose”
