Garrett Hongo: Exploring the rich connections among poetry, memoir and storytelling

TSTB shares an insightful and candid discussion with Garrett Hongo -- celebrated poet, memoirist, and audio writer. Born in Volcano, Hawai’i, Hongo grew up in Kahuku and in Los Angeles. His poetry collections are Yellow Light, The River of Heaven – which received the Lamont Poetry Prize and was a Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize – and Coral Road.  His most recent book is 2022’s The Perfect Sound: A Memoir in Stereo. His other non-fiction includes The Mirror Diary and Volcano: A Memoir of Hawaiʻi.  Hongo’s work has been recognized with fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Fulbright Program (Italy), and the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2022, he received the Aiken Taylor Award for lifetime achievement in poetry. He lives in Eugene, Oregon, where he is Distinguished Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Oregon. 

In this conversation, Hongo discusses the formative stories -- told and concealed -- of his family history; the stereotyping and condescension he has sometimes faced in academic settings; and his enduring passion for great music and sound.

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