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Listen to Ms. Yamanaka read an excerpt from HEADS BY HARRY- yamanakaexcerpt
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Q&A with Lois-Ann Yamanaka
1- You started writing when you were 27. What drew you to writing fiction? yamanaka1
2- Growing up, what authors did you read? yamanaka2
3- Who are you reading now? yamanaka3
4- Do you see HEADS BY HARRY as darker than your previous work? yamanaka4
5- “Local” culture is often viewed as monolithic. Yet, even though I was born and raised in Hawaii, alot of the elements in your novel were unfamiliar to me. Do you see regional differences in Local culture, variations from island to island? yamanaka5
6- What interests you in the tension between rural Hawaii and urban Hawaii? yamanaka6
7- You’ve traveled extensively to promote your book. After seeing so many different places, has your view of Hawaii changed? yamanaka7
8- Your characters endure alot of troubles in HEADS BY HARRY, yet they seem to retain a sort of essential innocence. Do you see your characters as innocents? yamanaka8
9- How do you find the voices of your characters? yamanaka9
10- Pidgin English as a political act? yamanaka10
11- Your characters seem torn between a craving for white culture and a simultaneous rejection of it. Why? yamanaka11
12- Do you think the publishing industry is more receptive to novels like HEADS BY HARRY? If so, why? yamanaka12
13- What similarities do you see between Mainland Asian-American writers and those from Hawaii? Is there commonality between the two? yamanaka13
14- Why are you so interested in Father-Daughter relationships? yamanaka14
15- You write less about the relationships between Mother and Daughter. Why? yamanaka15
16- You’ve received alot of attention and acclaim. Do you feel any special responsibility or obligation when you write? yamanaka16
17- What role did shame play in the controversy surrounding your work? yamanaka17
18- What role do you see for an artist in today’s society? yamanaka18
19- Why do you write? yamanaka19
Akopos 