Keywords

Sarah Moss, Ripeness, identity, memory, immigration, belonging, family, writing, creativity, genetics, love, women’s lives, parents, ballet

Summary

In this episode of Shop Talk with Writers, host Elena Lapin converses with bestselling author Sarah Moss about her new novel, Ripeness. The discussion delves into themes of identity, memory, and the immigrant experience, as well as the dual perspectives of the protagonist, Edith, who navigates her life as both a teenager in 1960s Italy and an elderly woman in contemporary Ireland. Moss reflects on the complexities of family relationships, the nature of writing, and the impact of history on personal identity.

Takeaways

• Ripeness explores the theme of what it means to be a foreigner.
• The novel is structured around dual perspectives of the protagonist, Edith.
• Moss emphasizes the importance of memory in writing.
• Family dynamics play a crucial role in shaping identity.
• The book addresses the complexities of immigration and belonging.
• Moss reflects on the historical context of her characters' lives.
• The narrative intertwines personal stories with broader social issues.
• Moss discusses the challenges of writing about trauma and recovery.
• The concept of 'ripeness' relates to maturity and timing in life.
• Moss believes in the importance of caring about the world in writing.
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Novelist Sarah Moss joins host Elena Lappin to discuss her extraordinary new novel RIPENESS. It is a stunning work of fiction from the author of SUMMERWATER, GHOST WALL, and most recently, the memoir MY GOOD BRIGHT WOLF.

Read more on Elena Lappin’s Substack elenalappin.substack.com

'I am always writing fiction in the cracks of history.' said Moss.

Other memorable quotes from this conversation:

'This novel is an elegy for an era we just lost.'

'Moving to Ireland made me think about identity.'

Sarah Moss lives in Dublin.

RIPENESS is published by Picador.

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