Yiyun Li

Yiyun Li, a celebrated novelist known for her raw exploration of depression, shares her journey from a challenging childhood in Beijing to becoming a literary beacon for those grappling with grief. In conversation with fellow writer Alexandra Kleeman, she discusses her struggles with language and her transformative shift from science to storytelling. They dive into her poignant works, including 'The Book of Goose' and 'Where Reason Ends,' highlighting how fiction can offer comfort and connection during difficult times.

Yiyun Li, an award-winning author and professor, shares her profoundly personal journey after losing her two sons, Vincent and James, to suicide. She discusses her unconventional view on pain, describing it as an "abyss" rather than grief. Li emphasizes the importance of remembering over processing and reflects on the radical acceptance necessary to navigate such loss. Through vivid stories about her sons, she illustrates the complexities of parental love, the burden of societal misconceptions, and the enduring struggle to live with acute memories of pain.

Yiyun Li, author of several works of fiction and a memoir, talks about finding characters in real life, her attraction to characters who hold back their emotions, exploring cliches, editing for effect in writing, her upbringing in Beijing, and the intersection of politics and life during the 2016 election.

Yiyun Li, a celebrated author known for her insightful novels and winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award, joins to explore William Trevor's "The Piano Tuner’s Wives." They dive into profound themes of love, jealousy, and the intricate dynamics between two women linked by a blind piano tuner. Li reflects on memory and identity, discussing how past relationships shape the present. The conversation also highlights Trevor’s subtle storytelling, revealing emotional depths and the complexities of human connection amidst beauty and heartbreak.

Yiyun Li, acclaimed fiction writer and memoirist celebrated for precise, emotionally resonant prose. She talks about discovering characters as moods or glimpses. She describes note‑taking, attention to thought and language, and writing interior drama rather than action. She discusses reading and writing through grief, precision in a second language, and beginning a wide historical project.