Hua Hsu, author of the memoir “Stay True,” and Hernan Diaz, author of the novel “Trust,” discuss their books and their reactions to winning the Pulitzer Prize.
In “Yellowface,” R.F. Kuang draws on her own experiences to tackle issues like cultural appropriation and representation. “I hate the feeling of being read just because somebody’s trying to tick off a diversity check box,” she says.
In new novels by the National Book Award finalists Gary D. Schmidt and Brandon Hobson, adolescent boys navigating parental loss find strength in ancient mythology.
In his odd and wonderful first novel, the deadpan comedian Steven Wright takes us inside the head of a boy who broods over love, time, God and piñatas.
“Those works are labors of love too,” says the author, whose new novel is “Chain-Gang All-Stars.” “I like work that moves me, makes me see things anew, asserts humanity, cares enough to really look. That can be emotional or intellectual and usually (almost always) it’s both.”
Don’t get hung up on how long it should take or how many citrus peels are too many. As one longtime composter put it, “My rule is: Don’t worry about it.”
“Paved Paradise,” by Henry Grabar, examines the country’s obsession with parking, from its effects on urban sprawl to the violence it sometimes provokes.