Scripps Presents: Ottessa Moshfegh and Colm Tóibín in Conversation with Rachel Kushner

When it comes to contemporary literary fiction’s literary lions, one needn’t look further than Colm Tóibín and Ottessa Moshfegh. The former is the Irish-born, New York–based author of seven novels, including Brooklyn (on which the critically-acclaimed film starring Saoirse Ronan was based). The latter’s accolades include a PEN/Hemingway Award and nominations for the National Book Critics Circle and Man Booker Prize for her debut novel, Eileen. Together, the two will read from their works and discuss the craft of fiction with Scripps’ Mary Routt Chair of Writing, novelist Rachel Kushner.

[timkjazz]

Ottessa is a revelation, terrific prose, laugh out loud funny.

[mattsteinle]

Three absolutely wonderful writers in conversation.  What a treat!

[christine]

Kushner misses the point completely. Moshfegh"s characters astonish the reader because they are so fully and unflinchingly articulated. This revelation is beautiful, not repulsive. A writer with that power undoubtedly knows there are those who will be grossed out (i.e. scared, jealous, befuddled) by such truth. She shouldn't give a rip and if she did, she would be a much lesser talent.

[dbcoolyo]

was murder legal in ancient greece? colm breezes by the start of his ancient greek thing with his protagonist casually killing a couple people for not much reason