NPR's Book of the Day: In-Depth Summary of Susan Choi's Flashlight

Podcast Information:

• Title: NPR's Book of the Day
• Host/Author: NPR
• Episode Spotlight: Susan Choi's Flashlight – An alternate-universe version of her own family
• Release Date: June 12, 2025

Introduction to Flashlight

In this episode, NPR's Andrew Limbong introduces Susan Choi's latest novel, Flashlight, positioning it as a thought-provoking family saga that weaves together themes of history, war, secrets, and borders. Following her acclaimed previous work, Trust Exercise, which delved into the complexities of teenage psychology within high school theater, Choi's Flashlight presents a more straightforward yet equally compelling narrative that spans decades.

Plot Overview

Flashlight opens with a poignant scene: ten-year-old Luisa and her father, Cirque, walking along a Japanese beach, where he carries a flashlight. Tragedy strikes when Luisa is swept away by the tide, leaving her father unable to save her due to his inability to swim. This mysterious and heartbreaking event sets the stage for the novel's exploration of family dynamics and personal loss.

Notable Quote:

Andrew Limbong [00:02]: "... Susan Choi's latest novel, Flashlight, is relatively straightforward but no less thought provoking. It's one of these big stories about a family across decades and it involves history and war and secrets and borders. There's a lot going on."

Character Analysis and Emotional Depth

The narrative primarily follows Luisa, who grapples with profound loss and loneliness. After the beach incident, she and her mother are left to navigate their lives apart from Cirque. Luisa's interactions reveal her internal struggles, especially in her session with a child psychiatrist where she expresses resistance to forming connections:

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [03:07]: "She's very unreceptive to him. But at the same time, she's kind of can't help engaging with him, even as she's sort of trying to fend him off."

Choi illustrates Luisa's complexity, portraying her as a character deeply committed to fending off love and connection yet yearning for understanding and companionship. This duality makes Luisa both a challenging and relatable protagonist.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [06:24]: "She is only slightly less difficult as a young adult than she is as a child. I think there's a lot of me in Luisa."

This personal connection hints at Choi's own experiences and emotions influencing Luisa's character development, adding layers of authenticity to her portrayal.

Themes and Inspirations

Choi delves into historical tensions between Korea and Japan, drawing inspiration from her own family's experiences. Cirque, Luisa's father, is portrayed as an ethnic Korean born and raised in Japan, embodying the struggles of individuals caught between colonial legacies and national identities.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [03:42]: "...what was going on with ethnic Koreans who kind of got washed up in Japan at the end of World War II. They were second-class citizens under this Japanese empire, but then there is no Japanese Empire and they're citizens of nothing."

This historical context enriches the narrative, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the lingering effects of colonialism.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [07:16]: "I was sitting in this wonderful library in Seattle, looking out at the water, and I was trying to figure out how to talk about that love and that sensation of recognizing someone that you really, actually don't know at all."

Choi connects personal emotions with broader historical themes, using metaphorical language to illustrate the complexities of love and understanding within the family structure.

Writing Process and Narrative Structure

Choi discusses her method of managing a sprawling narrative that spans almost a century. Initially intending to write a concise story, she found the novel expanding organically, likening it to a "snail shell" spiraling outward.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [05:38]: "I began this novel with the intention of writing something very short. And I felt like the novel kind of wrote itself like a snail shell. It just kept spiraling outward in both directions. I had a hard time keeping track."

To maintain coherence, Choi employed a chronological ordering of events, a technique she describes as "Tolstoyan," enabling her to keep track of multiple characters and their intertwined stories.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [06:05]: "When you put the events in order, it's easier to keep track of what happened. I offer this free of charge."

This disciplined approach highlights Choi's commitment to crafting a meticulously structured narrative amidst its expansive scope.

Exploration of Love and Connection

A poignant moment in the discussion centers on the concept of love as an unexpected yet grounding force. Choi articulates love as a sudden expertise that builds upon accumulated experiences, providing stability and understanding.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [07:11]: "It's about the flashlight again, and what we can see and what we can't see. I think sometimes the experience of falling in love is this experience of believing that we know everything about someone that actually we've only just met."

This metaphor underscores the novel's exploration of perception, understanding, and the often-overlooked depths of personal relationships.

Conclusion: A Journey Through Decades and Emotions

Flashlight by Susan Choi is portrayed as an intricate tapestry of family history, personal loss, and the quest for connection amidst historical and emotional turmoil. Through Luisa's journey, Choi invites readers to reflect on their own life stories and the unseen forces that shape them.

Notable Quote:

Susan Choi [06:33]: "Admittedly, it's a hard thing to admit because she's a character that is so committed to fending off love. But it was so important to me that she find love and some kind of peace."

This resolution signifies the novel's overarching theme of healing and the enduring human desire for understanding and love.

Final Thoughts

Susan Choi's Flashlight emerges as a profound literary work that intertwines personal narratives with broader historical contexts. Through meticulous character development and thematic richness, Choi crafts a story that resonates on both intimate and universal levels, making it a standout addition to contemporary literature.