One Minute With: Barbara Ehrenreich, author
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Where are you now and what can you see?
I'm at home in Virginia, I'm standing between my bedroom and the room in which I work, and I can see trees blooming out of the window.
What are you currently reading?
China Miéville's 'Kraken'. I loved 'The City & The City', although this one is a little sillier. I've just finished 'The Moral Lives of Animals' by Dale Peterson.
Choose a favourite author and say why you like her/him
If I were to go back to my teen years, I would say Joseph Conrad. I loved his themes connected to the sea and to adventure and I recognised, even as a kid, that this was amazing writing.
Describe the room where you usually write
It's a room with a desk and a couch and it's a disgusting mess. Today is one of the days I have got to get things together, but each item that I pick up to throw away or file demands attention first - a bill to pay, a letter I never answered. I can't do it.
What distracts you from writing?
The drama and distractions of mundane life.
Which fictional character most resembles you?
I don't identify with one character but I do identify with male characters. It used to be the case that when female characters were brought into a story, something made me uncomfortable that I now know to be sexism in the way they were presented.
What are your readers like when you meet them?
A pretty motley bunch. It's always been interesting to me how diverse their social class is. A lot get my books from the library.
Who is your hero/heroine from outside literature?
While I was working on 'Blood Rites', I discovered that I admire not only pacificists - Gandhi, Cindy Sheehan, etc - but also warriors, especially the old-fashioned kind who still depended on human muscle and skill.
Barbara Ehrenreich's 'Blood Rites' is published by Granta
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments