About this episode

Andrew Sean Greer and Naomi Ishiguro discuss their latest novels and the themes that inspire their writing.

Pulitzer Prize-winner Andrew Sean Greer makes the case for the 'charm novel' with his latest, Villa Coco , about an eccentric Italian baroness and a young American in rural Tuscany. And, as Naomi Ishiguro tells Claire Nichols she channels Japanese folklore, anime, Pokémon as well as themes of migration, slavery and corruption in Rainshadow Orphans , the first of a fantasy trilogy. Andrew Sean Greer reveals how his time at an Italian writers' retreat lead by an unforgettable aristocrat inspired his novel Villa Coco . But he's quick to point out that Coco, the elderly eccentric Italian Baronessa of the novel is a vastly different character from the real person. The book's Coco lives in a crumbling villa in the Tuscan hills where a hapless young American takes a job as her assistant. But his vision of what that entails has to undergo a radical rethink; there is chaos, secrets revealed, grandiose visitors sweep through the faded halls and many misunderstandings and mishaps occur. Andrew also makes a case for writing uplifting books (echoing Ann Patchett who spoke with Claire on The Book Show recently about the importance of joy in her writing life). Like her father Nobel Prize winner…

People in this episode

Host: Claire Nichols

Guests: Andrew Sean Greer, Naomi Ishiguro

Topics covered

• charm novel
• Japanese folklore
• fantasy trilogy
• migration
• slavery
• corruption

Keywords

• charm novel
• Villa Coco
• Rainshadow Orphans
• Japanese folklore
• fantasy
• migration
• slavery

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Villa Coco, Rainshadow Orphans

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