<club-desc-paragraph>Can you really feel secure in a country that wasn’t made for you? Built on a series of unresolved moments, author Simon Han explores what it’s like to be a Chinese immigrant family in suburban Dallas. When the Cheng family’s daughter starts unexpectedly sleepwalking, it sets into motion a string of misunderstandings threatening to turn their adopted community against them.<club-desc-paragraph>
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<club-landing-h3>The Story<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon describes Nights When Nothing Happened along with the primary themes and how they appear for Annabelle and Jack’s characters. He’ll also discuss the unspoken question at the heart of the second half of the book.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Themes and Motifs<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon talks about the themes of protection, power, and control and how they appear for the characters as they struggle to find a secure place in the world.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>The Larger Implications<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon discusses how the book’s characters balance their emotional needs with their desires to survive in a new country. He also covers the subtle and unspoken forms of racism the characters experience daily.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>The Real-Life Inspiration<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon talks about how writing fiction allows him to explore feelings, desires, and opinions he might not express openly. He also discusses the importance of place and how the Chinese immigrant population is changing Plano, Texas.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Inspiration from Other Writers<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon talks about different literary influences, including Bram Stoker’s Dracula. He explains Emily Dickinson’s advice to “tell it slant” and how he feels most truthfully himself through the “slant” of fiction.<club-landing-paragraph>
<club-landing-h3>Crafting the Novel<club-landing-h3>
<club-landing-paragraph>Simon discusses his process of writing Nights When Nothing Happened. He also talks about the choice to explore multiple perspectives and the simultaneity of time.<club-landing-paragraph>
