A fine review of this new book has appeared in Mint: The intended readership of Writing Badly Is Easy may seem to be academics, students and those working towards joining the ranks of scholars, but Kumar’s approach, a combination of donnish table-talk and friendly advice over a drink, should appeal to anyone who has ever sat before… Read more »
Posts By: Amitava Kumar
The Summer That Changed You
An Indian newspaper asked me to contribute a hundred words about a summer that was transformative. I wrote about the summer when I wrote the first draft of Immigrant, Montana. (The novel was published in India as The Lovers.) I was also asked to supply a photo from the time I was writing about. My… Read more »
The World Is Made Up Of Lines
My friend Vasundhara at Aleph Book Company in Delhi asked me to share my writing advice. It was pub day for my book Writing Badly Is Easy. When I got her note on my phone, I was at Mass MOCA in North Adams. My daughter took this picture. I have now written a few lines… Read more »
“Intimacy is overrated; newness is everything.”
I was interviewed for National Geographic Traveller India. What do you love and hate most about travel, today? I like that travel gives you new eyes. When I arrive in a town, and am taking pictures, I realise that most often my best pictures are the ones taken on the first day. Intimacy is overrated;… Read more »
City of Asylum, Pittsburgh
Home
At the airport in Delhi, I recorded a two-minute podcast on my idea of home.
Thank you, President Obama
Barack Obama shared his list of favorite books for 2018 and I was delighted to find Immigrant, Montana on that list, right between David Blight and the late great Denis Johnson!
Yale
I have just returned from a lovely visit to Yale University where I visiting Professor Leah Mirakhor’s writing class and then did a reading and talk at Ezra Stiles College. (At Ezra Stiles, I read from Immigrant, Montana and collected some valuable merch. An Ezra Stiles woolen scarf and thermos. Thank you for the opportunity,… Read more »
Immigrant, Montana in the New York Times
Immigrant, Montana reviewed in the New York Times Book Review. Jabari Asim calls it “consistently entertaining.” More here. (Also cool to have the wonderful Kate Walbert reviewed on the same page.)
Speaking Of
It was an honor to deliver the 2018 Vassar College Convocation Address on September 12. A preview was offered here. I love in particular the beautiful and historic chapel on campus. Photos by Karl Rabe. In other news, the audio reading I did of Immigrant, Montana has received a wonderful review here: IMMIGRANT, MONTANA… Read more »