The Tamesis
In Madeleine Cash’s hilarious, hilarious, and richly rendered new novel, a couple’s open marriage unravels when their three daughters are drawn into a criminal conspiracy led by a billionaire. lost lamblaunched this week by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Cash strings together quite a few clever puns (ie: a mobile bliss service called “Take an Inch, Give a Mohel”) that captures a level of family dysfunction that’s also, in a way, very catchy.
This week, Fashion Talking to Cash about “Leaning Into Sensibility” lost lamb; Drawing inspiration from Raymond Chandler and the Crazy Tech Bros; How she felt about fitting into the “Downtown Lights” scene; Celebrating her book launch with her mom.
Fashion: How did the Flynn family first come into your mind?
Madeleine Cash: Well, I wanted to write something completely fictional and bear no resemblance to my own life. I don’t have any siblings and I have a single parent from a big city, so fully creating the character was an initial challenge. The first character is indeed the villain, Paul Alabaster. I’m really obsessed with this guy Brian Johnson, who uses his son’s blood to fight aging, so that’s where Paul comes from. The other characters were just some compositions and research; I made character maps for them, but I don’t know, I just made them up. [Laughs.]
What is your writing process like?
I wish it were more organic, or I have my grandfather’s typewriter, but it’s on the computer in my apartment. I create charts and graphs both physically and digitally. I planned my schedule very thoroughly, so I was very organized, but I was working at the time, so in the evenings and weekends I would be at my desk or in a coffee shop, playing on the computer.
I love all the puns in this novel; did you have to kill off any favorites during the editing process?
I’m a copywriter, so word play is really something I enjoy. My editors did ask me to tone down the humor and lean more toward sentimentality, which I think felt a little uncomfortable, but I’m glad they did. They actually did cut back significantly [part] A character that I wasn’t willing to do in the first place. But I do think they were right and good at their jobs, which was ultimately the best outcome.
Do you have any other favorite novels set in the family?
really correct by Jonathan Franzen – This is a great family novel that I think has been my latest inspiration. I really like it too hell By Don DeLillo. Many mysteries also had a great impact. I like Big sleep The author is Raymond Chandler and I read quite a bit to understand the plot as it is a mix of a family saga and a mystery.
If you had to spend eternity with Flynn, or even just have dinner, which one would you choose?
Oh man, I might want to hang out with Harper, even though she’s going to get pretty annoying over the course of eternity.
To be fair, I think most people do.
You know, that’s true. I don’t know if I want to spend eternity with anyone. Don’t tell my boyfriend this. [Laughs.]
How do you feel about the adjective “downtown lights” that people sometimes use in relation to your work?
