By Bella Cannizzo
This past Monday night, I had the privilege of attending Manhattan University’s Major Author Series, which spotlighted Justin Torres, the author of We the Animals and Blackouts. His novel Blackouts earned him the 2023 National Book Award and made him a finalist for the LA Times Book Prize, the Lambda Literary Award, and the Southern California Book Award. He has also been awarded fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard, and the New York Public Library's Cullman Center. His first novel, We the Animals, was a national bestseller and was adapted into a feature film. Currently, he resides in Los Angeles and serves as an associate professor of English at UCLA.
I didn’t know much about Justin Torres before attending the event. To tell the truth, I was hesitant to go. But, Monday evening turned out to be wonderful. I regret ever waffling about whether or not to go. Justin read passages from both We the Animals and Blackouts, followed by a Q&A session with students. His humor and authenticity were certain. The room came alive with his energy and candid reflections.
We the Animals explores the complexities of identity, especially the challenges he faced as a queer, mixed-race individual. The book captures the chaos of family life: the tension between public unity and private dysfunction compounded with the pressures of belonging. Justin shared how these themes mirrored his own experiences, which added even more depth to the reading. His other book, Blackouts, explores the erasure of LGBTQ+ history and the violence institutionalized against queer communities. The novel draws from historical records, including the 1941 study Sex Variants: A Study of Homosexual Patterns by the Committee for the Study of Sex Variants. Through photographs, illustrations, and the combination of fact and fiction, Blackouts tells the narratives of gay and lesbian individuals in 1920s and 1930s New York City. I was absolutely captivated by what I learned and can’t wait to read Blackouts.
On a personal note, discovering that Justin Torres is from Baldwinsville, just 20 minutes from my hometown of Fayetteville, really resonated with me. Both towns are right outside Syracuse, New York. Learning about someone who grew up in a place so similar to mine, reminded me of the connection many people feel when they hear of someone successful from their own community. For me, New York City is where I’m growing into the person I want to be and Justin Torres’ journey encapsulates that feeling perfectly. As an English major and intern at Riverdale Avenue Books, I encounter countless titles, author blurbs, and publishing ads. I always focus on just the book, and how the exterior language functions on the page. But, this experience reminded me that every author is a person too.
Both We the Animals and Blackouts are available now in stores and online. Don’t miss the chance to check them out!
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