An Evening with Karen Russell

Discover the imaginative storytelling and profound insights of Pulitzer Prize finalist Karen Russell at Books & Books in Coral Gables. On Thursday, March 27, Russell will discuss her latest novel, The Antidote, a dust bowl epic that explores the interconnected lives of five characters in a struggling Nebraskan town. This free event provides an opportunity to hear from the celebrated author, with books available for purchase.

The Antidote begins on Black Sunday, a day marked by a catastrophic dust storm that symbolizes the unraveling of the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. The narrative follows a “Prairie Witch” who holds the town’s memories, a Polish wheat farmer burdened by a cursed fortune, his orphaned niece seeking refuge from her grief, a charismatic sentient scarecrow and a New Deal photographer whose time-traveling camera reveals the town’s secrets. Russell weaves a tale that reckons with America’s historical amnesia while offering urgent reflections on climate and resilience.

Karen Russell, known for Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove, has garnered accolades for her inventive and emotionally resonant fiction. A Miami native, she has received numerous awards, including the Shirley Jackson Award and National Magazine Awards for Fiction, and has taught at esteemed institutions like the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.