Nam Le Does LAist & "We" Break Interviewing Rules

Over several emails, a Skylight reading, and a follow-up conversation at The Dresden, I had a chance to break every single rule of proper interviewing etiquette with Nam Le: I selfishly asked him the questions that most interested me. Period. I've never really done that, at least not so overtly, and I felt kind of weird about it, especially because I was asking questions that I knew were related to my very specific reading experience - one that few, if any, readers would have had.  But you see, that is precisely why I had to ask them: I knew no one else would. Yet, I fear LAist readers will be annoyed.

Everyone I spoke to about my reading experience and about the lack of a clear "stories" distinction on the cover thought I was nutso. Completely batty. Bizarre for getting all meta and thinking about the short story designation and how it maybe short-shrifts the reading experience and how the form can be played with, how certain novelistic techniques can be employed in stories (especially those without a story designation...to toy with us!) in a way that extends what a story is and changes what a novel is...so that all the lines are blurred a bit. This is the essence of Nam Le's work - this playing with convention and breaking rules and following form and then not again - and I was compelled to ask about it.  Then lo and behold, Antoine Wilson backs me up, unknowingly, and I feel somehow vindicated. Less crazy.

So - this is not a straightforward interview. It is messy and meta. It is short and long. If I were to go sub-meta, I'd even say that breaking every "proper" interviewing rule is perfectly apropos when talking about Nam Le's work.  Or is that just pushing the whole metaphor too far?  Either way, do check it out. Le was delightful (far more approachable, more friendly, even...dare I say it?...more smile-y than his official author photo would have you believe) and I very much look forward to catching up with him again soon.  And if you've not read The Boat...what is wrong with you? Make it happen so we can discuss.

Comments

[Tim]

There is such thing as a proper interviewing etiquette? I enjoy interviews where the interviewer is clearly engaged in the work and has obviously thought about it a great deal. It's clear that you were that kind of interviewer. Excellent interview. No need to offer qualifications or apologies for your technique here.

Now I need to go read The Boat...

[Tim]

There is such thing as a proper interviewing etiquette? I enjoy interviews where the interviewer is clearly engaged in the work and has obviously thought about it a great deal. It's clear that you were that kind of interviewer. Excellent interview. No need to offer qualifications or apologies for your technique here.

Now I need to go read The Boat...

[LAer]

If you're the woman who monopolized the q and a session that night at the Skylight, then yes, you're annoying. You were probably among the offenders at any rate. You can fancy yourself a rule-breaker but the sad fact is you'd rather hear your own voice than anyone else's. "My specific reading experience"--how rich! How do you know no one else would ask valuable questions? Too bad you're too pretentious and self-absorbed to connect with the real world of etiquette. No amount of pseudo-literary rationalization or embarrassing uses of the word "meta" will excuse that.

[callie]

LAer -- I didn't ask any questions at the Skylight reading, although I agree with you, there were a few folks who asked multiple questions. As I noted both here and at LAist where the interview is posted, I have interviewed many writers and have never once asked questions directly related to myself. This was a very unique situation, which I noted as "meta" because it was an attempt to organize something after the fact. I had many reservations about asking such questions, but felt that after the many interviews Nam Le had just given during his book tour (in which he was asked essentially the same questions over and over) this was at least a different glimpse into how his mind works. I also gave him several more straightforward questions, but he was game to answer these instead.

I'd love to read your own author interviews to have a more rounded discussion with you. It's too bad you didn't include a link to your work.