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Paul Yoon Reads Fiona McFarlane

Overview

Shownote

Highlights

Transcript

Chapters

Pins

Paul Yoon Reads Fiona McFarlane

The New Yorker: Fiction

Jul 01
The New Yorker: Fiction

The New Yorker: Fiction

Jul 01
OverviewShownoteHighlightsTranscriptChaptersPins

Shownote

Paul Yoon joins Deborah Treisman to discuss “Hostel,” by Fiona McFarlane, which was published in The New Yorker in 2024. Yoon was one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” in 2010, and has published five books of fiction, including the novel “Run ...

Highlights

In this episode, Paul Yoon joins Deborah Treisman to discuss Fiona McFarlane's short story 'Hostel,' a haunting tale about a couple's encounter with a mysterious young woman. The conversation explores the story's intricate structure, its unsettling themes, and the craft behind its creation.
02:56
The story's mystery and structure are what make it so compelling.
25:00
Their kindness may have made S too trusting of strangers.
38:31
The title 'Hostel' signifies a liminal, transient space.
55:18
The thrill of telling dark stories comes with the guilt of retelling.

Chapters

A Mysterious Encounter: The Story of S. and the Gentrifying Couple
00:00
Unraveling the Layers: Structure, Imagery, and Withheld Details
05:48
Jealousy and Desire: The Narrator's Complex Emotions Toward Roy and Mandy
31:49
Subverting Expectations: The Unreliable Perspective and the Collapse of an Idealized World
44:33
Crafting Connections: Paul Yoon on His Interconnected Story Collection
1:04:24

Transcript

Deborah Treisman: Oh, August. We're halfway through the summer, but it feels like the beginning of the end of those long, lazy days. And that means it's time to get your wardrobe ready for the bustle of autumn. And Quince has the perfect pieces to help you...