Novelist Valeria Luiselli On Writing To Document ‘Political Violence’

Valeria Luiselli discusses her work on migration, focusing on her nonfiction book 'Tell Me How It Ends' and her novel 'Lost Children Archive'. She shares her motivations, the challenges of writing about political issues, and the ethical considerations of storytelling. The conversation highlights the importance of storytelling in understanding and documenting political crises and its role in connecting communities.

What motivated Valeria Luiselli to write about migration in her works?

• Her interest in U.S. politics

• Her personal experiences as a migrant

• The surge of Central American children seeking asylum

• A family road trip across America

What challenge did Luiselli face while writing 'Lost Children Archive'?

• Lack of inspiration

• Balancing political viewpoints with storytelling

• Finding a publisher

• Writing in a foreign language

Why did Luiselli pause writing her novel to write 'Tell Me How It Ends'?

• To collaborate with other authors

• To travel to Central America

• To address her political frustrations more directly

• To focus on a different genre

What is a central theme explored in 'Lost Children Archive'?

• The history of U.S. immigration laws

• The ethics of documenting political crises

• The impact of climate change on migration

• The role of technology in storytelling

How does 'Lost Children Archive' view storytelling?

• As a means to entertain

• As a way to escape reality

• As a tool for propaganda

• As a fabric that binds communities