Ep 451: Digging into Nikki May's delicious Mansfield Park reimagining
What Should I Read Next?
Deep Dive
Why did Nikki May choose to reimagine Mansfield Park for her second novel?
Nikki May was inspired by Jane Austen's genius of taking a young girl away from her familiar environment and placing her in an alien setting where she must prove herself repeatedly. She saw this as a timeless concept and wanted to adapt it by making the themes more about race rather than class, using Mansfield Park as a scaffolding for her own story.
What personal experiences influenced Nikki May's novel This Motherless Land?
Nikki May drew heavily from her own life, including her childhood in Lagos, her mother's role as an art teacher, and the challenges of belonging in both Nigeria and England. She also explored her feelings of not belonging and the condescension she faced when she moved to London, which she infused into the character of Funke.
How does Nikki May's novel This Motherless Land address the theme of belonging?
The novel explores the complexities of belonging through Funke's experiences in both Nigeria and England. Funke is criticized for her English accent in Nigeria and for not fitting in with British norms in England, highlighting the challenges of navigating two cultures. Nikki May also reflects on her own experiences of feeling out of place in both countries.
What is the significance of the title This Motherless Land in Nikki May's novel?
The title reflects the central theme of the novel, where both Funke and Liv are searching for a sense of belonging without the guidance of their mothers. The 'Motherless Land' refers to the Ring, a place where they both seek identity and connection, but without the nurturing presence of their mothers.
How does Nikki May's novel This Motherless Land update the themes of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park?
Nikki May updates the themes by shifting the focus from class to race, exploring the complexities of racism and cultural assumptions. She also introduces the idea of belonging in two different cultures, which was not a central theme in the original Mansfield Park.
What are some of Nikki May's favorite family novels?
Nikki May cites Anne Patchett's Commonwealth, E. Lockhart's We Were Liars, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's Half of a Yellow Sun as some of her favorite family novels. She appreciates how these books explore complex family dynamics and relationships.
What is Nikki May's hope for readers of This Motherless Land?
Nikki May hopes that readers will find her novel entertaining and engaging, offering a different perspective on Nigeria and the complexities of race and belonging. She doesn't aim to preach or lecture but wants to provide an enjoyable reading experience that might also make readers think.
- Listeners can email [email protected] with the subject line "Gift Help" to request book recommendations for holiday gifts.
- The team will feature some of the requests and provide answers on a future gift-giving episode.
Shownotes Transcript