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The Big Book Project
The Big Book Project is a multi-venue reading experience for bibliophiles fascinated by long or dense works of fiction and interested in discussing them with others, one novel at a time.
The works selected will be capacious novels from the mid-nineteenth century through today that possess an abundant writing style or complexity in structure and themes.
The notion that reading need not be a solitary activity has special resonance with these novels given that there is much to discuss, elaborate upon and question in the authors’ expression of ideas. I like to think of these novels as abundant because I appreciate their richness and volume, characteristics bestow a sort of grace to luxuriate with the text.
The critic and scholar Alexander Nehamas writes that when a work of art beckons, it is because we do not fully understand it but feel the strong desire to do so. And it is this deliberative process, the journey, of trying to understand why a novel is extraordinary that I want to explore with fellow readers at The Big Book Project.
We discuss books like Roberto Bolaño’s 2666
The Big Book Project
The Power of Agaat: Publishing, Politics, and Literary Brilliance with Tin House’s Nanci McCloskey
In this special episode of The Big Book Project, host Lori Feathers is joined by Nanci McCloskey—Associate Publisher and Director of Sales & Marketing at Tin House Books—to kick off our next group read: Agaat by Marlene van Niekerk.
📚 Agaat is a psychological epic set in apartheid-era South Africa, told through the complex relationship between two women—Milla and Agaat. Originally published in the UK under the title The Way of the Women, the novel eventually found its home in the U.S. thanks to Nancy’s passionate advocacy at Tin House. In this conversation, Lori and Nancy discuss the book’s extraordinary language, its slow-burn intensity, and the deeply layered themes of race, power, and legacy.
💡 In This Episode:
- How Agaat came to be published in the U.S.
- Why Toni Morrison championed the novel
- The book’s shifting perspectives and psychological tension
- Why the title Agaat matters
- The parallels between personal relationships and apartheid
- Stories from readers deeply moved by the novel
This episode is a powerful exploration of what makes Agaat one of the most extraordinary modern novels—and why it’s worth your time, despite its 650 pages. Whether you're new to the book or already a devoted reader, this discussion will deepen your understanding of its literary and emotional resonance.
🔊 Tune in now to begin your journey through Agaat, and learn why this under-the-radar masterpiece is finally getting the attention it deserves.
Where to Find the Host
Links and Resources:
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