Dani Shapiro discusses her book, “Family History.” She begins by sharing the basic plot of the book that follows the narrator, Rachel Jenson who is a housewife and art restorer married to Ned, a former painter. The couple live in a small town in New England with their two children, 13 year old Kate and 2 year old Josh. Shapiro explains that by way of flashbacks, the book tells of the emotional devastation that Kate has brought to her family. After baby Josh is involved in a tragic accident while in sister Kate’s care, Kate becomes dangerously rebellious, spiraling out of control, she makes wild accusations that inflict terrible damage on her family. Later in the interview Shapiro reminisces about an essay that she read called “Writing in the Cold for the First 10 Years.” The essay was about writers and how and why so many give up too soon. Shapiro explains that it was this concept that she found as inspiration for Ned’s character who is a former painter turned real estate agent. Also in this interview Shapiro shares that she was the mother of a very ill child and how she harnessed her emotions from that experience to write this book.
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