.3LVVIA's biting debut novel 'Oval' follows a woman who forges her own path in a world where all problems can be solved in a form of a pill
In Elvia Wilk's brilliant, biting debut novel, Oval, the world is weird. This isn't to say it's unrecognizable. In fact, the specific weirdness of this world is what makes it so familiar; this dystopia bears contours as intimately known as those of our own face.
Below, I speak with Wilk about Oval, conspiracy theories, and why it's fair to say the world is weirder than ever.It's hard to remember. It's been through many lives. But I think the genesis was personal frustration, which is a great reason to write any book. [laughs] Did you feel prophetic while you were writing it? Were there any things you finished writing, and then, later on, you were like, Oh, this is actually just happening all around me?
When I started writing, I felt trapped in a lot of ways. I was trying to confront the feeling of personal and political futility, paired with the demand for constant productivity. I fictionalized my situation in order to displace it from myself, so I could see it from another angle. I didn't get to any practical answers, and neither do the characters—but the writing process itself became a sort of answer for me.
Yeah. So the book starts with an epigraph by Kurt Vonnegut from his novel, Slapstick. Vonnegut was a big influence on me while writing, for many reasons, including his use of humor to undercut the gravity of it all. Vonnegut's brother happened to be the guy who developed cloud-seeding—a kind of dubious scientific method of making it rain by shooting chemicals like silver iodide into the sky.
Speculation is incredibly valuable, it's creative and generative, and we have to make safe bubbles in which to come up with new ideas, but then you can also end up in this total dearth of political engagement and a lack of practical, applicable skills. Once you spend so much of your life participating at various levels in this performance and in this constructed identity, the specter of failure is so real, and you know that it will be perceived as just the next step in this performance. And so even if that comes from the conscious decision of opting out, it's really difficult to actually separate yourself from what you know will then be a part of how everybody sees you.
A tour isn't the only Spice Girls reunion we are being blessed with. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Spice Girls' superhero-themed animated film is officially a go. The film will be produced by Simon Fuller and written by Karen McCullah and Kiwi Smith. Soria didn't let slip a release date, but we're hoping it's very soon.
Back in 2017, Miley Cyrus made some insensitive comments about hip-hop and distanced herself from a genre that she had used for the entirety of her Bangerz era. Now, she's finally apologized. Cyrus pointed out that saying that something"pushed" her out of the hip-hop scene"was insensitive as it is a privilege to have the ability to dip in and out of 'the scene.'""Here are decades of inequality that I am aware of, but still have [a lot] learn about," she continued."I can not change what I said at that time, but I can say I am deeply sorry for the disconnect my words caused. Simply said; I fucked up and I sincerely apologize.
A few weeks back, Lipa posted a sweet throwback of herself when she was a toddler to celebrate hitting 30 million followers. She appeared to be pouting, but some people were convinced that she had altered the photo to make her baby self's lips look plumper. Dua Lipa on Instagram: “to the people saying i photoshop my baby pictures to make my lips look bigger are mad madddd! can’t believe i have to defend myself. you…”
Firecrackers, July 14 When I saw the trailer for this film, it looked like it had the same energy as the 2003 coming-of-age drama Thirteen. It's about two wild teenagers, ready to move to New York City and start completely new lives but an abusive boyfriend is standing in the way. Where’d You Go Bernadette, August 16 Based on the best-selling book, this film centers around a grown woman—with a child and a husband—running away from home. Only, there are no unfit mom narratives here; instead, it purports to be about a woman finding her voice. Count me in.
Share, July 27 Director Pippa Bianco is here to challenge what you think about sexual assault and the"right thing to do after it happens." When Mandy wakes up on her lawn with bruises and finds out there's a mysterious video of her being spread around the school, she tries to figure out what the hell happened.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Most White Women Are Very Happy With White SupremacyThe disturbing and hilarious new novel 'Bunny' follows an MFA student who gets taken in by a clique of girls called the Bunnies
Read more »
White Sox's Eloy Jimenez Scared To Return To D.R. After David Ortiz ShootingThe White Sox star says he's downright afraid to return to the D.R. after David Ortiz's shooting.
Read more »
‘That is f—ing frightening’: Treasury’s top brass is white, male and wealthyA lack of diversity in the highest ranks of the Trump-era Treasury Department is a microcosm of challenges across the administration.
Read more »
White House tree marking Trump's friendship with French president Macron has died, reports sayThe pair planted the tree on the south lawn of the White House in 2018; it disappeared just days later.
Read more »
Atlantic editor apologizes for seeming to suggest that only white males can write cover storiesThe editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, has clarified and apologized for remarks that drew heavy criticism when he appeared to suggest that only white men can write 10,000-word cover…
Read more »