Roxana Robinson

Roxana Robinson is the author of ten books - six novels, three collections of short stories, and the biography of Georgia O’Keeffe. Four of these were chosen as New York Times Notable Books, two as New York Times Editors’ Choices.

Robinson's new novel is Dawson's Fall.

Recently I asked the author about what she was reading. Her reply:

I’ve just finished Anna Burns’ wonderful novel, Milkman. Burns does something very interesting with form: she uses no names or identifiers. The protagonist is called “Middle Sister,” and you must work out how many siblings she has. “Milkman” turns out to refer to two people, neither of whom has a name. This tactic requires you to form your own impressions and identifying characteristics. The narrative takes place in Ireland, but she doesn’t say north or south; she mentions “the right religion” and “the wrong religion,” so that the reader must constantly consider what those epithets might mean, and what the reader’s own stereotypes might be. This bracing style puts demands on the reader. More importantly, she writes starkly about the insidious effects of war on the civilian population, most specifically on women. This is a subject not often taken up, and not often treated with such depth and imagination and power. It’s a remarkable book.

Visit Roxana Robinson’s website.

My Book, The Movie: Dawson's Fall.

The Page 69 Test: Dawson's Fall.

--Marshal Zeringue