I was like, I don’t even know if I’m reading, much less asking other people to read it. I definitely went in with no expectations, especially given how unprecedented this year was. K-Ming Chang: No, it’s been completely shocking. How has that been? Was it surprising, the positive reception or did you just go in with no expectations of how it would go? I haven’t finished it yet, but already it’s incredible.īFR: And it’s also been really incredible for Bestiary this year, the Center for Fiction for First Novel Prize long listing, the editor’s choice in NY Times, and I also saw the National Book Foundation, 5 under 35. Oh yes, I’m currently reading the Office of Historical Corrections by Danielle Evans. Let me think what else I’ve read recently. And it’s really, really incredible and so, so strange as well. I haven’t read a book that fast-I read a chapter and then it was finished. It’s one of the wildest things I’ve ever read and it’s told in this chorus of voices and it’s translated from Spanish.Īnd recently another book that I just read in one sitting-and I haven’t read a book in one sitting in years-is Earth Eater by Dolores Reyes, which is also translated from Spanish. I would say one book that has really stuck with me is The Black Cathedral by Marcial Gala. I’ve read so many incredible things this year. Do you have any novels or works that you really enjoyed this year? So definitely really, really grateful and surprised every day.īFR: I know it’s been a really rough year for debut authors because of everything going on. But it’s just always so unexpected and shocking to me that people are reading it, especially in a year like this. K-Ming Chang: I’ve just been so grateful to see how many readers have really resonated with it, and to see it finally be born in the world-it’s such a relief and also a huge joy as well. The following interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.īerkeley Fiction Review: So I know Bestiary just came out this year how has it been having a debut novel out during a pandemic? She is currently the Micro editor at The Offing magazine. Her short story collection, Resident Aliens, is forthcoming from One World. She is the author of the debut novel Bestiary (One World/Random House), which was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize and named a New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice.

K-Ming Chang / 張欣明 is a Kundiman fellow, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree.

K ming chang bestiary