Totally Booked with Zibby: Episode Featuring Jeanine Cummins on "Speak to Me of Home"

Release Date: May 16, 2025

Introduction to Jeanine Cummins and Her Latest Work

In this episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens welcomes Jeanine Cummins, the acclaimed author best known for her New York Times bestseller American Dirt. Owens provides a comprehensive introduction to Cummins, highlighting her impressive literary achievements, including multiple book club selections and translations into 37 languages.

Zibby Owens [02:04]:

"Jeanine Cummins is the number one New York Times best selling author. We have to talk about how that feels of American Dirt, which was an Oprah's Book Club and a Barnes and Noble Book Club selection..."

Overview of "Speak to Me of Home"

Cummins delves into her latest novel, Speak to Me of Home, offering an elevator pitch that captures the essence of the story across three generations of a Puerto Rican family. The narrative explores themes of identity, heritage, and the complexities of familial relationships.

Jeanine Cummins [03:16]:

"It's three generations of a family very similar to my own grandmother, born and raised in Puerto Rico... all the ways that these three generations love and misunderstand each other."

Inspiration and Exploration of Family History

Following the controversy surrounding American Dirt, Cummins took time to introspect and explore her own family history. This period of self-examination led her to question her identity and the dynamics within her family, which became the foundation for Speak to Me of Home.

Jeanine Cummins [04:00]:

"I started asking myself questions about how I got here, how did I get to this moment where my identity is under a microscope?"

Identity, Ethnicity, and Cultural Identity

Cummins discusses the challenges of navigating a dual identity as both Latina and white, a struggle that influenced her portrayal of characters in her novel. She emphasizes the importance of representing the multifaceted nature of Latino identities and the internal conflicts that arise from societal perceptions.

Jeanine Cummins [05:00]:

"I can be both. But my identity has always been not simple."

Impact of "American Dirt" and Industry Reflections

Reflecting on the backlash from American Dirt, Cummins addresses the broader industry issues related to representation and the elevation of certain voices over others. She highlights the temporary nature of restrictions on storytelling and the essential role of fiction in transcending these barriers.

Jeanine Cummins [07:21]:

"Fiction cannot exist within the confines of that locked box. So it's not sustainable."

The Role of Fiction in Addressing Racism and Fostering Empathy

The conversation shifts to the power of fiction in facilitating difficult conversations about racism and empathy. Both Owens and Cummins agree that novels provide a safe space to explore and understand complex social issues without overt political agendas.

Jeanine Cummins [13:30]:

"Books are never the problem. Never ever. Even the books that we find problematic or scary or bad, for whatever reason, we should be reading them and then we should be talking about them."

Personal Experiences with Language Suppression and Cultural Loss

Cummins shares poignant personal anecdotes about her family's struggle with language suppression. She recounts how her family was forced to abandon Spanish in favor of English, leading to a profound loss of cultural identity and heritage.

Jeanine Cummins [21:54]:

"We lost our language, all three of us. And to this day, my brother, who at one point in his life could not speak English, doesn't have a word of Spanish."

Themes of Hope and Familial Bonds

Despite the heavy themes, Cummins conveys a message of hope centered around familial love and understanding. She believes that recognizing and embracing each other’s identities can lead to healing and stronger family bonds.

Jeanine Cummins [25:21]:

"What really matters is the lives we build together, the love that we have for each other, and the coming home to ourselves at a certain age..."

Concluding Remarks and Author’s Resilience

In closing, Zibby Owens commends Cummins for her resilience in the face of industry challenges and praises her latest work. Cummins expresses gratitude and reiterates her commitment to telling meaningful stories that reflect real-life struggles and triumphs.

Zibby Owens [28:39]:

"Jeanine, thank you so much. Thank you for coming on. Thank you for Speak to Me of Home. Thank you for being such a warrior and not staying quiet."

Jeanine Cummins [29:14]:

"Thank you. Thank you. It's been a pleasure."

Final Thoughts

This episode offers an intimate look into Jeanine Cummins' motivations and the intricate themes of her new novel. Listeners gain valuable insights into the intersection of personal history, cultural identity, and the enduring power of storytelling.

Notable Quotes:

• Jeanine Cummins [05:00]: "I can be both. But my identity has always been not simple."

• Jeanine Cummins [07:21]: "Fiction cannot exist within the confines of that locked box. So it's not sustainable."

• Jeanine Cummins [15:32]: "A good novel has this magical way of providing a framework to difficult conversations."

• Jeanine Cummins [25:21]: "What really matters is the lives we build together, the love that we have for each other, and the coming home to ourselves..."

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