Cosmic Cheeto Podstack 2: Sonora Jha, "The Laughter"

The Plot Against Sex Pests Who Like G.K. Chesterton

Welcome, dear subscriber, to episode two of the Cosmic Cheeto Podstack! In this one, I interview acclaimed author Sonora Jha, whose second novel I really loved, and which is out in paperback today!

If you’re a nerd like me, there’s no wrong time for a campus novel, especially one that turns the archetype of the aggrieved and unfairly unfamous white dude protagonist on its head. The Laughter is no Lucky Jim or Straight Man: quite the opposite! Or rather: the same and the opposite! (I believe one word for that is “paradox,” though perhaps I should consult with someone far smarter than me.)

In this interview, I spoke with Sonora about what it was like writing from a subject position far different from her own, the much-needed narrative texture of empathy (even for the bad guy!), the importance of feminism on and off-campus, and the role of faculty in student activism. If you haven’t already read The Laughter, I guarantee you’ll want to after watching this!