Erica Kent On The Light And Shadows Of Her Magnificent New Novel
Reader’s first meet Jessica Ryder, the captivating protagonist of Erica Kent’s Black Dog, as a smart and brash eleven-year-old living with her alcoholic father in Brookline, Massachusetts. It’s 1980 and Jessica, an ardent music fan, is devastated over the death of John Lennon. In a misguided attempt to comfort her, Jessica’s father offers her a beer. This fateful act kicks off a near-decade long struggle with alcohol and drugs, which Kent depicts with clarity and empathy. Kent masterfully charts Jessica’s adolescence as the young woman negotiates her complicated family dynamic, not only with her father, but also with her mother and sister, who live in a far different socioeconomic world in nearby Boston. What follows is not only a riveting coming of age story but also a clear-eyed examination of the often fraught road to recovery. The reviews have been rapturous for Black Dog. Library Journal wrote, “Kent demonstrates her skills with evocative and atmospheric prose” and Pulitzer-Prize winner Richard Russo raved, “Erica Kent’s Black Dog takes the reader on a truly terrifying journey, but guess what? I’m so, so glad I fastened my seatbelt, gritted my teeth, and climbed aboard.” Kent spoke with us about using her setting as a character, capturing Jessica’s voice, and allowing the story to find her.
