Behind the Pages: A Deep Dive into Sri Lankan Politics & Family with V.V. Ganeshananthan

I'm so excited to introduce today's guest, V.V. Ganeshananthan, who also goes by Sugi. She's a novelist whose work has appeared in many leading newspapers and journals, including Granta, The Atlantic Monthly, and The Washington Post. We had a great conversation about her recent novel Brotherless Night and her debut novel Love Marriage. Both of these books are about families impacted by Sri Lankan politics and conflict, and Sugi has talked a lot about the plots and structures of these books. But today, we get to hear more from Sugi, the person. I loved talking to her about her writing process, the inspiration behind her work, and her experiences as a Sri Lankan American. It was a rich conversation that I can't wait for you all to hear. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of Immigrantly. Join the conversation: Instagram @immigrantlypod | Twitter @immigrantly_pod |  Please share the love and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts to help more people find us!  Host & Executive Producer: Saadia Khan I Content Writer: Rainier Harris & Saadia Khan I Editorial review: Shei Yu I Sound Designer & Editor: Haziq Ahmed Farid I Immigrantly Theme Music: Simon Hutchinson   

Welcome to Immigrantly: a boundary-pushing, border-crossing podcast that gives diverse voices and stories, a home. Drawing on her own experiences as a rights activist and a first-generation Asian immigrant, creator & host, Saadia Khan tackles the big questions on race, identity & the immigrant experience while challenging mainstream narratives in today’s divided America. Covering everything from love and dating to food and faith, each weekly episode explores a theme with inspiring guests such as Grammy-winning singer Arooj Aftab; bestselling author of 'The Kite Runner,' Khaled Hosseini; and comedians Hari Kondabolu and Aparna Nancherla. It’s a true celebration of what makes us unique – and a timely reminder of all that unites us. If you’d like to be part of this fun, thoughtful and inclusive community, all you need to do is subscribe! Executive Producer & Host: Saadia Khan Sound Design & Content Editor: Manni Simon Media Coordinator: Kayla Lupoli Content Writers: Yudi Liu, Ashley Lanuza, Sarah Doh & Saadia Khan Music: Evan Ray Suzuki/Epidemic Sounds