Wednesday 3rd March 2021 – An Interview with Clara Tamez

I've been wanting to start an interview series where I interview all different kinds of people about the books that they've read/are reading. Books are wonderful and I hope to share that same thought through these interviews. 

Within this last week, I had the wonderful opportunity to hear from Clara about some of the books that she's currently reading. 

Clara and I met at Kingston University London in September 2019 and I miss her so much! It was so lovely to hear from her as she always inspires me with her insight and smart thoughts. 

Clara, you are a gem. Thank you.

Clara's interview:

Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Clara Tamez and I am an American student studying for an MFA in Creative Writing at Kingston University London.

How long have you been reading books?

I've been reading books ever since I can remember. My parents really encouraged reading and making use of our local libraries.

What kind of books do you read?

I typically read literary fiction and books that have magical realism or bend genre in any way. I'm working on a science fiction novel at the moment, so I read as much in that genre as I can. Other favourite kinds of books include poetry, short stories, historical fiction, and speculative fiction. This year, I'm trying to expand my knowledge of books into more translated works! I also read non-fiction, mostly about feminism and racial inequality, but there is the occasional art history book.

What book are you reading now/have you just read?

I have two books at the moment. I'm reading 'This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate' by Naomi Klein, and 'Giovanni's Room' by James Baldwin.

Why did you choose this book?

Honestly, 'This Changes Everything' has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, but I just hadn't gotten around to it because I knew it would be a book that I would be reading over an extended period of time and one that I would really have to concentrate on. It wasn't until a friend reached out to me and suggested we read it together that I decided to pick it up. I chose it because I want to take more of an active stance into learning about the environment.

I'm reading 'Giovanni's Room' because James Baldwin's prose is so magnificent and detailed, I feel like I learn from him as a writer on every page. He also has this way of expressing thoughts and feelings very precisely and I feel like I'm in good hands when I pick up one of his works.

 

Is there anything you've learned from it?

Yes! I'm only on chapter five of 'This Changes Everything' and it has blown my mind multiple times. So many people believe they can avoid climate change because it's too depressing or they don't understand it. Klein delves into the reasoning behind this, as well as exploring the history of global warming and humanity's response to it. One of the biggest takeaways I've had so far is that climate change is linked to many other struggles, including racial inequality, food inequality, gentrification, indigenous rights, and migration. Solving one has a direct link to solving the others, but only if the interests of the public are placed at the forefront of long-term, comprehensive planning. Something else to point out is that there aren't a lack of solutions to climate change. The solutions are clear, but there are many obstacles to face to accomplish them, mainly the people and corporations in power who benefit most from the current systems.

I've only just started 'Giovanni's Room' so I haven't learned much just yet, but I can tell you that Baldwin's prose is as stunning as ever.

 

What would you tell someone who wanted to read this book?

I would tell them to do it! I regret not picking up both of these books sooner because I feel like there is so much to learn that simply isn't taught, and these things can be learned through both fiction and nonfiction.  

Books discussed: (click on the titles to view the books)

This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate by Naomi Klein. 

 Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin.