A Conversation with Chris Bohjalian

It's not every day that a bestselling novelist repudiates all of his past work, including an Oprah's Book Club pick -- but that's exactly what Chris Bohjalian, author of the hugely popular Midwives, Trans-Sister Radio, and other books, told me when he came to The Book Studio for this interview.

In this interview, Bohjalian explains why he believes so strongly in his new novel Skeletons at the Feast, from its genesis in a friend's request to its development as a sort of ensemble-cast tale of unlikely comrades making their way from Eastern Prussia to the Western Front in the last months of World War II. 

After listening to Bohjalian and (I hope) reading his new book, you may not agree that his previous work should be ignored, but you will agree that he has written something very, very different this time around.  One of the most fascinating scenes in the book is one he and I discuss, when Anna Emmerich, a young East Prussian woman whose well-to-do family has already suffered many losses, arrives at a relative's mansion with her mother, younger brother, lover, and a displaced soldier (there are two men, and I won't tell you here which is which). In the midst of deprivation, the group experiences some old luxuries -- and the results range from tragic to farcical. You may be interested in my take on Bohjalian's inspiration for this section.

No matter what, you'll definitely be intrigued by Bohjalian's passion for his latest book (now out in paperback) and his stated commitment to writing more historical novels. I'd love to hear what you think after listening and watching. You can always email me directly: thebookmaven at gmail dot com. Thanks for stopping by The Book Studio!