Leni Zumas
(USA, 1972) is the author of the story collection Farewell Navigator: Stories (2008) and the novel The Listeners (2012). Red Clocks, a book in the spirit of Margaret Atwood about four women living in an imaginary America where abortion is illegal, single mothers may not adopt, and there are further political regulations hostile to women. She has commented that the "frightening details of the misogynist world in which her story takes place are inspired by actual legislative proposals of men who at this moment have power in the government" (The Washington Post). Many are asking themselves when her fictional vision of the US will become reality. Besides writing, Zumas teaches writing at Oregon State University in Portland.
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Archive available for: Leni Zumas
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Who Wants to Live Forever?
How did they express our (near) future in words or sound? In this literary and musical performance, seven festival authors each presented a new text or poem commissioned by Winternachten, with musical contributions by Syrian-born ud player Jaber Fayad. You saw and heard Ayelet Gundar-Goshen from Israel, HemelBesem from South Africa, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi from Uganda, Arshia Sattar from India, Leni Zumas from the United States and, from The Netherlands, Auke Hulst and Aafke Romeijn. Their inspiration was the festival theme Who Wants to Live Forever? The authors performed in their mother tongue or writing language with simultaneous projection of the English and/or Dutch translations.
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Book of My Life: Leni Zumas
Writers tell us about their favourite book: the book that inspires or touches them, that set their artistic, moral or intellectual compass. In short, the book they would recommend to everyone. Interview: Hassnae Bouazza.
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Leni Zumas: Why Would Women Want to Live Forever?
Why do women want to live forever? US writer and essayist Leni Zumas answered this and other questions via selected film excerpts, which she discussed with Gerlinda Heywegen. These included a fragment of the feature film Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) by Miranda July.
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How Dark Is the Future?
Writer and journalist Fiep van Bodegom talked to authors Leni Zumas (US), Mohammad Rabie (Egypt) and Aafke Romeijn (Netherlands) about their expectations and speculations about the near future. All three recently published futuristic novels. In Red Clocks, Zumas portrays women in a future US where abortion and IVF are banned and and adoption is illegal for single mothers. In Rabie's Otared, a police sniper joins the underground resistance movement when half of Cairo is occupied by mercenaries. And in Concept M, Romeijn presents a surprising sketch of radicalization in the Netherlands in the year 2020.
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Books Unlimited: Leni Zumas & Jennifer Clement
Get to know literary stars and their recent books. Philosopher Simone van Saarloos talked to US writer Leni Zumas about her futuristic bestseller Red Clocks and to US-Mexican writer Jennifer Clement about her latest novel Gun Love. Expect to hear about their motivation to write, the creation of their characters and the worldwide success of their books.
In Red Clocks, Zumas sketches an intense portrait of four women. Their virtuostically told stories take place in an oppressive and all-too-imaginable future United States in which abortion, IVF and adoption is illegal for single women. The Guardian wrote about Gune Love: "Jennifer Clement's novel about a trailer park teen on a surreal journey across a gun-crazed land is superbly told."
