Picture a storyteller who weaves tales of identity, culture, and human complexity with the finesse of a master—meet Susan Choi! Born in 1969, this American novelist has captivated readers with her sharp prose and fearless exploration of personal and political landscapes. From her National Book Award-winning Trust Exercise to her Pulitzer Prize-finalist American Woman, Choi’s work is a vibrant tapestry of history, emotion, and insight.
With a Korean father and Jewish mother, Choi’s diverse heritage fuels her storytelling, offering a unique lens on the American experience. Her novels don’t just entertain—they challenge, provoke, and linger in your mind long after the last page.
The Making of Susan Choi
Susan Choi was born in South Bend, Indiana, and raised there and in Houston, Texas, after her parents’ divorce when she was nine. Her early years were shaped by a blend of cultures, which later became a cornerstone of her writing. She attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Houston, hinting at her creative spark. Choi earned a B.A. in Literature from Yale University in 1990 and an M.F.A. from Cornell University, honing her craft with precision.
Her career kicked off at The New Yorker, where she worked as a fact-checker—a role that sharpened her eye for detail. It was here she met her husband, Pete Wells, though they later separated. This blend of rigorous research and personal experience set the stage for her literary journey, one marked by bold narratives and cultural depth.
Susan Choi’s Unforgettable Stories
Choi’s debut novel, The Foreign Student (1998), is a poignant tale of a Korean student navigating post-war America, drawing on her father’s experiences. It won the Asian-American Literary Award for Fiction, announcing Choi as a voice to watch. Her second novel, American Woman (2003), a finalist for the 2004 Pulitzer Prize, reimagines the Patty Hearst kidnapping through the lens of a Japanese-American activist, blending history with psychological depth.
A Person of Interest (2008) explores paranoia and identity through a mathematician suspected of terrorism, earning a PEN/Faulkner Award finalist nod. My Education (2013), a daring dive into love and desire, snagged a Lambda Literary Award. Her crowning achievement, Trust Exercise (2019), won the National Book Award for Fiction, unraveling the complexities of teenage relationships and narrative truth with metafictional brilliance. Her upcoming novel, Flashlight (2025), promises to probe memory, identity, and loss on a global scale.
Choi’s style is meticulous yet electric, blending lyrical prose with sharp social commentary. Her themes—identity, cultural dissonance, and the interplay of personal and political—resonate deeply, making her work both timeless and timely.
Why Susan Choi Matters
Susan Choi’s impact lies in her ability to humanize history’s margins. Her novels illuminate the lives of those caught in cultural crosscurrents, from Korean immigrants to radical activists, offering readers a mirror to their own complexities. Critics like Joan Didion and Jhumpa Lahiri praise her narrative mastery, while awards like the PEN/W.G. Sebald and Guggenheim Fellowship affirm her influence.
As a trustee of PEN America and a creative writing instructor at Johns Hopkins University, Choi shapes the next generation of writers, ensuring her legacy endures. Her work challenges readers to question truth, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves, making her a vital voice in contemporary literature.
- Born: 1969, South Bend, Indiana
- Key Works: The Foreign Student, American Woman, Trust Exercise
- Awards: National Book Award (2019), Pulitzer Prize Finalist (2004), Lambda Literary Award (2014)
Snag Trust Exercise or The Foreign Student and dive into Susan Choi’s riveting world of identity and intrigue!