Lisa Taddeo: Violently in Love

In her bestselling non-fiction book Three Women, Lisa Taddeo gave an account of the defining sexual relationships in three real women’s lives. Now the American author turns her hand to fiction, and her debut novel Animal opens with a bang – literally. Love-addicted Joan has been having an affair with her married boss, but as she is in a restaurant having dinner with another man, he bursts in and shoots himself in front of her. Following that explosive opening paragraph, Animal charts Joan’s journey – both physical and sexual – across America to the west coast. Often depraved and violent but always written in dazzling prose, Taddeo’s depiction of Joan’s life confirms her remarkable ability to document female rage, violence and revenge. In this event, filmed live at the 2021 Edinburgh International Book Festival, Taddeo talks about the immersive research and incessant journeying that went into writing this propulsive, dynamic thriller.

Book Festival News

Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024 Book Festival reveals first author events for 2024
Sunday 14 April

Enjoying this event? You can help us produce more like it.

Donate

Share

Watch more

Interview - David Reynolds (2015) Interview - David Reynolds (2015) We had a quick chat with the brilliant writer David Reynolds about his fascinating journey down Highway 83 before his event in Charlotte Square Gardens. Find out from some audience members to see what they thought about the event. You can see David's … Matthieu Aikins, Sally Hayden & Polly Pallister-Wilkins: Bordering on Inhumane Matthieu Aikins, Sally Hayden & Polly Pallister-Wilkins: Bordering on Inhumane Deemed by Sally Rooney as the ‘most important work of contemporary reporting’, My Fourth Time, We Drowned explores Sally Hayden’s staggering investigation into the migrant crisis across North Africa. In The Naked Don’t Fear the Water, journalist M… Ed Miliband & Ece Temelkuran: The World We Want Ed Miliband & Ece Temelkuran: The World We Want Around the world, politics has been trending towards infantilisation. Careful discourse is often replaced by lies, media stunts and juvenile sloganeering. What can be done to recalibrate democratic discourse? Well, maybe thoughtful Book Festival discussio… Scottish BAME Writers Network: Afrofuturism - Present Realities, Possible Futures Scottish BAME Writers Network: Afrofuturism - Present Realities, Possible Futures How can Afrofuturism help the African diaspora in Scotland engender a better future for today? Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science-fiction, history and fantasy to reimagine the history of the African diaspora, while invoking hopeful… Ann Cleeves at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Ann Cleeves at the Edinburgh International Book Festival Having already made waves with her crime investigators, Shetland's Jimmy Perez and Tyneside's Vera Stanhope, much-loved author Ann Cleeves introduces us to a new detective in the shape of Devon’s Matthew Venn. She again proves herself to be a master of … Peter Scott-Morgan: Rewiring Humanity Peter Scott-Morgan: Rewiring Humanity The first sign that something was not right came to scientist Dr Peter Scott-Morgan when he was getting out of the bath – no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't manage to shake the water from his feet. Not long after, he was diagnosed with MND (Motor … Katherine May: A Natural Harbour Katherine May: A Natural Harbour Many of us find ourselves in the shadow of the events of the last few years, feeling a little unmoored and wondering: does anybody else feel like this? Overwhelmed and burnt out, Katherine May opens her door and journeys into the natural world in search o… Kerri ní Dochartaigh & Katherine May: Wildest Dreams Kerri ní Dochartaigh & Katherine May: Wildest Dreams From the depths of winter sprout the seeds of new growth and the promise of wonders. In Enchantment, Katherine May unravels the threads of a tightly-wound life and finds a more meaningful and grounded way to be. In Cacophony of Bone, Kerri ní Dochartaigh… Vivian Gornick: A Map of American Feminism Vivian Gornick: A Map of American Feminism In an age of instant opinions and the daily social media rush from one outrage to another, it’s refreshing to read the words of an 85 year old writer who insists on taking her time. In fact, Taking a Long Look, Vivian Gornick’s latest essay collection… Interview - Esther Gerritsen & Amy Mason (2015) Interview - Esther Gerritsen & Amy Mason (2015) Dutch writer Esther Gerritsen and Britain's Amy Mason joined us for a chat about writing the universal theme of mothers and daughters before their joint event in Charlotte Square Gardens. You can also hear from a real life mother and daughter from the…