Honor Jones’ latest novel, Sleep, delves into the lasting influence of childhood experiences on adult identity, particularly in the role of parenthood. The story follows Margaret, who grows up surrounded by the lush greenery of suburban life, accompanied by her close-knit family and a lifelong best friend. However, when a traumatic event disrupts her sense of security, Margaret learns to navigate the world by relying on her own resilience rather than external protection.
As an adult and mother, Margaret grapples with balancing the need to keep her children safe while encouraging them not to live in fear. In a recent conversation with NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly, Jones discusses the themes of Sleep, including the enduring effects of childhood, the shifting nature of parental expectations, and her signature minimalist writing style.
Listeners can hear the full discussion on NPR’s Book of the Day segment. For an ad-free experience and to support NPR’s literary programming, sign up for Book of the Day+ at plus.npr.org/bookoftheday.
