The Water Dancer
September 24, 2019 4:52 PM - by Ta-Nehisi Coates - Subscribe
From Ta-Nehisi Coates, the National Book Award–winning author of Between the World and Me, a boldly conjured debut novel about a magical gift, a devastating loss, and an underground war for freedom.
Ta-Nehisi Coates on writing fiction (The Atlantic, 9/29/19)
Book Tour Dates (ta-nehisicoates.com)
Ta-Nehisi and Oprah, in conversation at the Apollo Theater on 9/23/19: During the almost hour-long conversation, Coates revealed that his first novel, The Water Dancer, which was chosen to relaunch Winfrey’s book club with Apple TV+, took 10 years to write. (The Root)
The evening's conversation also served as Coates’ first program as Apollo Theater’s inaugural Master Artist-in-Residence. The three-year initiative will include events on the Apollo’s iconic stage and in the Apollo’s new spaces in the Victoria Theater opening in Fall 2020. (Apollo Theater)
[Cobbling together an FPP on Coates isn't working out. Sleep is for the weak, and I sorely wish some musclehead would kick sand in my face.]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:42 AM on October 1, 2019
Book Tour Dates (ta-nehisicoates.com)
Ta-Nehisi and Oprah, in conversation at the Apollo Theater on 9/23/19: During the almost hour-long conversation, Coates revealed that his first novel, The Water Dancer, which was chosen to relaunch Winfrey’s book club with Apple TV+, took 10 years to write. (The Root)
The evening's conversation also served as Coates’ first program as Apollo Theater’s inaugural Master Artist-in-Residence. The three-year initiative will include events on the Apollo’s iconic stage and in the Apollo’s new spaces in the Victoria Theater opening in Fall 2020. (Apollo Theater)
[Cobbling together an FPP on Coates isn't working out. Sleep is for the weak, and I sorely wish some musclehead would kick sand in my face.]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:42 AM on October 1, 2019
I loved reading this - particularly the description of conduction as practiced by "Moses." The spiritual call and response of a whole family reliving memory and it transporting them, the deep welling power of memory as an escape, as both a metaphor and a plot device, was so moving. I assume he was very influenced by Toni Morrison, though it didn't feel as rooted in reality as, say, Beloved. And I found it very similar in some ways to Colson Whitehead's Underground Railroad.
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 2:19 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by Isingthebodyelectric at 2:19 PM on October 29, 2019 [1 favorite]
Reading this now, am extremely into it but so far haven't worked out what if anything to say about it.
posted by asperity at 10:24 AM on December 17, 2019
posted by asperity at 10:24 AM on December 17, 2019
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posted by Dip Flash at 5:56 AM on September 25, 2019 [1 favorite]