Reading Recap

The reading at Macalester took place at the college’s art gallery. (It’s currently showing an installation that consists of pieces of insulation material hanging on strings from the ceiling; yeah, I don’t get it either.) I was introduced by my friend Marlon James, who teaches fiction here. I’m in the middle of his new novel, The Book of Night Women; it’s very good. I’m particularly fond of what he does with language.

I read from a short personal essay I’ve been working on and then from Secret Son. The most interesting question for me came when someone in the audience wondered why my main character is a man. It’s true (and this isn’t my first time.) But, with apologies to Flaubert, Youssef, c’est moi.

I just got back from dinner and I’m tired. More soon, I hope.