How a new book honors Emmett Till

Welcome to the L.A. Times Book Club newsletter.

Greetings, esteemed readers. I am Chris Vognar, culture critic and avid bibliophile.

This week, I had the opportunity to converse with Wright Thompson, a Mississippi native whose latest nonfiction work, “The Barn,” examines the murder of Emmett Till through various lenses—cultural, geographical, and personal. Additionally, I have curated a selection of recent releases that have been reviewed by Times critics, and provided an update from Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica.

Wright Thompson grew up on his family’s farm in Clarksdale, Mississippi, approximately 23 miles away from the location where Black teenager Emmett Till was brutally beaten and murdered following accusations from a white woman in 1955. Till’s murder, along with the subsequent acquittal of his assailants, served as a pivotal moment in the civil rights movement.

However, Thompson, who identifies as white, expressed that he did not learn “a single thing” about this incident during his childhood. In a recent video interview, he remarked, “I didn’t know his name until I went to college. I believe that the way Emmett Till is remembered in Black American history differs fundamentally from the white American perspective.”

In “The Barn,” Thompson, also known for his books “Pappyland” and “The Cost of These Dreams,” delves into the specifics, beginning with the barn (still intact) where Till was murdered, and expanding to encompass the socioeconomic backdrop of the Mississippi Delta and the enduring culture of silence surrounding this atrocity.

Thompson took the time to discuss “The Barn,” which originated as a 2021 article in The Atlantic, detailing his motivations for revisiting the site of this significant American tragedy.

Was “The Barn” always intended as such an expansive study of Emmett Till’s murder?

No, it was initially more of a personal endeavor before becoming a professional project. I was simply seeking to understand the significance of this barn, haunted by the realization that it remained unmemorialized and almost completely overlooked in history.

The book is characterized by meticulous detail, including careful analyses of maps and the evolution of the Mississippi Delta. Why was this aspect so essential to you?

The entire book serves as a map, where precision is paramount. It is both a literal and metaphorical map, one that leads to the essence of the subject matter. Consequently, every detail holds significant weight. It appears that the omnipresence of the name Emmett Till serves as a form of erasure; it has become mere shorthand, a way to shield ourselves from the horrific reality faced by a 14-year-old child. The mere listing of his name within a longer sequence—Emmett Till, Rosa Parks, Birmingham Jail—constitutes its own erasure.

While the murder itself is widely known, there remain profound aspects about it that are underexplored. It is the specifics that render it unbearably real. Knowing the serial number of the gun used to fatally assault him extricates it from the comfortable sphere of euphemism and historical brevity, exposing the sheer brutality of the event.

You hail from Mississippi, delving into its deep-seated wounds. Have you encountered significant resistance regarding this work?

Resistance has mostly manifested online. However, I perceive a recognition, even among individuals who may not share my views on history and politics, that we must engage in these discussions. Those resistant to this dialogue do not appear to represent the deeply-rooted Mississippians. In real-world interactions, where individuals are living their lives and envisioning a future, there is a strong desire for debate and discourse—this has been civil and nuanced throughout all my personal interactions and book events thus far.

(Please note: The Times may earn a commission through links to Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.)

The Week(s) in Books

Chris Vognar reviews Jeremy Dauber’s new book, “American Scary,” calling it “expansive and revelatory.”

(Associated Press)

Kim Tong-hyung reported on the jubilant South Korean response to the news of Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize in Literature.

David L. Ulin reviewed “Q & A,” a unique instructional book by comics artist Adrian Tomine. “His art is nuanced and introspective,” Ulin notes, “marked by a vivid restlessness.”

Leigh Haber reviewed John Edgar Wideman’s “Slaveroad,” describing it as “a profound reflection on the challenges and fascinations faced by the acclaimed 83-year-old author as he confronts his own mortality and the familial tragedies that have long informed his literary oeuvre.”

Roxsy Lin analyzed Paola Santos’ picture book “How to Eat a Mango” alongside other new works by Latino authors.

And Chris Vognar—yes, that would be me—reviewed Jeremy Dauber’s masterful exploration of American horror, “American Scary.” As Dauber articulates, “You can write America’s history by tracking the stories it tells itself to unsettle its dreams, provoke its anxieties, and galvanize its actions.”

Bookstore Favorites

Zibby Owens, the proprietor of Zibby’s Bookshop, shares insights on the titles that are currently flying off the shelves.

(Jay L. Clendenin/Los Angeles Times)

We recently spoke with Zibby Owens, owner of Zibby’s Bookshop in Santa Monica, to learn about the current bestsellers and upcoming releases.

What titles are proving difficult to keep in stock?

We have sold out of Jo Jo Levesque’s memoir, “Over the Influence.” Additionally, Sally Rooney’s novel “Intermezzo” sold out almost instantly. Laura Dave’s “The Night We Lost Him” and Griffin Dunne’s memoir “Friday Afternoon Club” are also experiencing strong sales. Moreover, literature on menopause is extremely popular. We recently hosted Mary Claire Haver for an event regarding her book “The New Menopause,” which has garnered substantial interest.

What upcoming titles are you particularly excited about?

We have an upcoming event with Jennifer Love Hewitt for her new book, “Inheriting Magic.” I was quite a fan of “Party of Five.” I’m also reading an advance copy of an outstanding book by Geraldine Brooks, titled “Memorial Days.” It’s incredibly compelling; it recounts the loss of her husband, the circumstances surrounding the notification of his sudden passing, and her journey to confront her grief two years later.

This concludes this week’s newsletter. Happy reading, and we look forward to seeing you next time.