The acclaimed author Dinaw Mengestu discusses his new novel, All Our Names (Bond Street Books, 2014), with Joseph Planta.

All Our Names by Dinaw Mengestu (Bond Street Books, 2014). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: All Our Names

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

The distinguished writer Dinaw Mengestu joins me now. The acclaimed writer has just published his third novel, which like his previous two has received outstanding notices. All Our Names is the story of a young man who views the African revolution after the end of colonialism and the independence of Uganda up close, and who goes to America, in a Midwest town taking up with the social worker he’s assigned, who happens to be of a different colour. That relationship and the friendship he had with a charismatic leader who inspired him in Kampala, are the core of this book, and I’ll get Mr. Mengestu to tell us about the book, and the struggle for identity that the characters encounter throughout. Dinaw Mengestu is an award winning author of two previous novels: The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears, and How to Read the Air. He is a 2012 MacArthur Foundation genius grant recipient, and has countless other accolades. All Our Names is published by Bond Street Books, which is an imprint of Random House. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program in Toronto today, Dinaw Mengestu; Professor Mengestu, good morning.

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