🤖 AI Summary
Overview
This episode delves into the art of crafting and appreciating thrillers, featuring insights from Sarah Lyall, the New York Times thrillers columnist, and acclaimed author Tana French. They discuss the recently released list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century, the elements that define a great thriller, and the creative process behind Tana French's celebrated novels.
Notable Quotes
- The best thrillers combine incredible plot pacing with beautiful writing, characterizations, and truths about being human.
— Sarah Lyall, on what makes a thriller truly exceptional.
- The real question in most mysteries isn’t ‘whodunit.’ It’s what impact does this have on the characters? How will they process it? Will it change them?
— Tana French, on the deeper layers of mystery writing.
- Humans love mysteries. It’s not just the answer to the question that fascinates us — it’s the mystery itself.
— Tana French, on why the genre resonates so deeply.
📚 What Defines a Thriller?
- Sarah Lyall explains that thrillers are defined by suspense, a gripping plot, and a sense of urgency to uncover what happens next.
- The genre is broad, encompassing police procedurals, psychological thrillers, and even literary works with suspenseful elements.
- Examples of unconventional thrillers on the Times' list include The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and Room by Emma Donoghue, which are not traditional thrillers but contain compelling mystery elements.
🖋️ Tana French’s Creative Process
- French revealed that she rarely knows the ending of her books when she begins writing, likening her process to solving a mystery herself.
- Her debut novel, In the Woods, emerged from a single haunting idea: three children enter a forest, but only one returns, with no memory of what happened.
- French’s writing is deeply character-driven, focusing on how a crime impacts individuals and their relationships, rather than solely on solving the mystery.
🔍 The Allure of the Thriller Genre
- Thrillers are often dismissed as formulaic, but Sarah Lyall and Tana French argue that the best examples of the genre marry intricate plots with literary depth.
- French emphasizes that the true power of thrillers lies in their exploration of human psychology, societal tensions, and the mysteries of human behavior.
- The Times’ list of the 50 best thrillers highlights the genre’s diversity, from Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn to The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen.
🌍 Thrillers as Mirrors of Society
- French discusses how thrillers naturally reflect the societal and historical contexts in which they are set. For example, her novel Broken Harbor is deeply tied to Ireland’s financial crisis.
- She believes that murder mysteries reveal what a society values most, as they explore the motivations and fears that drive people to kill.
📖 Tana French’s Recommendations and Upcoming Work
- French recommends Northwoods by Daniel Mason, Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry, and The Secret History by Donna Tartt as must-reads.
- Her next novel, set during the COVID-19 lockdown, explores the arrival of a mysterious woman in a small Irish suburb, unraveling secrets that disrupt the community. She plans to submit the manuscript soon, much to the excitement of her fans.
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📋 Episode Description
The New York Times Book Review recently released its list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century.
To put it together, the team asked almost 300 authors and other experts to vote for the best heart-thumping, page-turning, white knuckle reads published since 2000.
In this episode of “The Sunday Daily,” Natalie Kitroeff talks with the Times thrillers columnist, Sarah Lyall, about how the list came together. Then, Natalie speaks with one of the greatest thriller writers of this century — with four books featured on the list — the author Tana French.
On Today’s Episode:
Sarah Lyall writes a monthly thrillers column for The New York Times.
Tana French is the author of many best-selling books, including “In the Woods,” “The Searcher,” “The Likeness” and “The Witch Elm.”
Background Reading:
The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century
Photo credit: Naila Ruechel
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