In her new novel The Antidote, Karen Russell delves into the impact of two disastrous events in Nebraska—the Dust Bowl and a devastating flood—on community memory and identity. Set in the fictional town of Uz, the story features a unique character, a prairie witch, who absorbs people's memories, reflecting the themes of collective remembrance and loss. Russell's reflections on her writing journey were shaped by personal experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and wildfires, providing her with a fresh perspective. The novel invites readers to consider what is remembered and forgotten in times of crisis.
Russell describes The Antidote as exploring how communities remember and forget tragedies, linking collective memory to environmental loss, a theme echoing throughout the narrative.
The idea of a Dust Bowl novel was formed during my first novel, but I struggled to write it until 2020 brought new perspectives from recent disasters.
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