Mark Richard: "House of Prayer No. 2"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-02-09/mark-richard-house-prayer-no-2
Jeff Vespa
Writer Mark Richard is best known for his fiction and award-winning short stories. But as is often the case, his own story is perhaps equally compelling. He grew up in the 1960s in a racially divided rural town in Virginia. His family was poor. He was born with deformed hips and spent years in and out of charity hospitals. When his father walked out, his mother withdrew further into a world of faith. In a new memoir he details growing up in the American South as a “special child” and how the racial tensions and religious fervor of his home town animate his writing today.
Guests
Mark Richard
author of two award-winning short story collections, "The Ice at the Bottom of the World" and "Charity." He is also the author of the novel "Fishboy." He is the recipient of a PEN/Hemingway Award, among other honors.
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Listener Questions
Mark Richard stayed for a few minutes after the show to answer a few more listener questions.
- Q: "Did you enjoy college? Was it difficult?"
- From Dick
A: "I enjoyed the small classes and the great teachers, but never really fit in with the frat system. Part of this was probably my own rebelliousness - I was pretty angry and wild at the time. In retrospect, I really wish I'd applied myself and paid more attention, but I guess that's life. I did make some good friends, including Temp Webber, himself an outsider of sorts, and guys like Bob Lutz and Ben Brockenbrough."
Q: "What a beautiful story. Mark's simple way of expressing himself brought tears to my eyes...Thank you."
- From Althea
A: "Thank you. Yes, I have been blessed with a praying mother, and have learned that the best thing one can do as a parent is pray for your children and try to lead them on a spiritual path, and also importantly, to try to be a good example. Hard to do!"
Comments
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Listening to your voice and hearing about your father reminds me of my father in law. He too is happiest alone, has mood swings, has a dark side, and is highly intelligent. All of his male progeny have been diagnosed with Asperger's. Have you ever considered that for your father?
I really enjoyed your interview with Mark Richard. I now know what to buy my wife for Valentine's Day. I just hope she gets to read "House of Prayer No. 2" before I do.