The Broads Talk Books With: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah

In this new installment of The Broads Talk Books With, we talk to Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah! We recommended his short story collection, Friday Black, in our very first episode.

Nana talks about inviting harsh student feedback, fans bursting into tears, his epic first meeting with Zadie Smith, and more.

In The Broads Talk Books With, we talk to some of our favorite authors, and nerd out about books. We've talked to Alex Marzano-Lesnevich, Andrea Lawlor, Jeannie Vanasco, Mona Awad, Mathieu Cailler, and more! Hit subscribe now in your favorite podcast player, and every episode of this bonus series will come to you direct, like magic.

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Favorite books and authors as a kid and teen:

• Harry Potter series, JK Rowling

• Bud, Not Buddy, Christopher Paul Curtis

• The Third Life of Grange Copeland, Alice Walker

• Pendragon series, D.J. MacHale

Books on his TBR pile:

• Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde (and check out Noname Book Club)

• Aftershocks, Nadia Owusu

• Luster, Raven Leilani

• Such a Fun Age, Kiley Reid

Books that have surprised Nana recently:

• Everywhere You Don’t Belong, Gabriel Bump

Authors and works that inspired Friday Black:

• George Saunders

• Drinking Coffee Elsewhere, ZZ Packer

• Jesus’ Son, Denis Johnson

• Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison

Authors and books Nana demands everyone read:

• Stakes is High: Life After the American Dream, Mychal Denzel Smith

• Toni Morrison

• Sister Outsider, Audre Lorde

Current pop culture obsessions:

• Ramy (and Final Draft podcast episode where Ramy Youssef discusses writing )

• Overwatch

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