ScribdChat - Episode 4: Lisa Ko on Her Award-Winning Debut Novel, The Leavers

Episode 4: Lisa Ko on Her Award-Winning Debut Novel, The Leavers

01/23/18 • 41 min

In today’s episode, author Lisa Ko discusses her debut novel, “The Leavers,” which chronicles the powerful and intertwining stories of Deming Guo and his mother, Polly, as both embark on their own search for identity. Early on, Polly is separated from Deming, and shortly thereafter Deming is adopted by a couple of loving — if not somewhat misinformed — American professors. He is then forced to navigate the memory of family and culture he left behind in tandem with his adoptive parent’s desire to raise him as a modern, middle-class American. As such, Ko’s novel explores the themes of identity, culture, and the definition of family.

“The Leavers” was shortlisted for the National Book Award in addition to winning the Pen/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction, and also named a one of the best books from 2017 by NPR, Entertainment Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed, and Bustle.

In today’s episode, Ko discusses the real-life stories that inspired “The Leavers,” why she felt the story in her book was worth telling, and what she learned while writing her debut novel. We talk about pacing, prose, the importance of listening to a killer soundtrack while writing, and, of course, the many nicknames that Ko as earned throughout her career.

You can read Lisa Ko’s “The Leavers” on Scribd.

Previous Episode

Episode 3: Gretchen Rubin on The Four Tendencies, Work-Life Balance, and Managing Expectations

Gretchen Rubin, the author of several bestselling books including “Better Than Before,” “The Happiness Project,” and “Happier at Home,” discusses her latest book, “The Four Tendencies,” which explores the many different ways in which is a groundbreaking analysis of personality type, focused primarily on how we respond to expectations, and it is as interesting as it is practical. Check it out to learn whether you’re an Obliger, Upholder, Questioner, or Rebel.

In today’s episode, Rubin discusses her latest book with author Chip Heath, who, along with his brother Dan, is the author of several popular books including his latest, “The Power of Moments.” The book delves into many of the mysteries that most humans experience, including the things we remember as the best or worst moments of our lives, why we feel most comfortable when things are safe, but most alive when things aren't, and why many of our happiest memories are from our youth.

Together, Rubin and Heath engage in a fascinating discussion about managing expectations, creating a work life balance, and discovering the Obliger, Upholder, Questioner, or Rebel within.

You can read both Rubin’s “The Four Tendencies” and Heath’s “The Power of Moments” on Scribd.

Next Episode

Episode 5: Colson Whitehead on History, Literary Theory, and Race Relations

Just after the release of “The Underground Railroad” in 2016, we had author Colson Whitehead in for one of our very first ScribdChats. The novel became an instant success, picked for Oprah’s Book Club, praised by President Obama, and then going on to win the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize. In this episode, Whitehead sits down with Michael Cohen, a professor of African American Studies at UC Berkeley, to talk about this ambitious, expansive, and important novel.

“The Underground Railroad” is available now on Scribd.