(Content Warning: discussions about sexual assault and trauma)

Aaron Hamburger, writer of Nirvana Is Here, talks with Andrew about how he approached writing a novel that explores Queer desire, trauma, and Jewish identity in the segregated suburbs of Detroit. Aaron's book has been highly praised and won the Bronze Medal in the 2019 Foreword Indies Book Awards. 

"Combine the sensuality and haunting nostalgia of Andre Aciman’s Call Me By Your Name with the raw emotion of Kurt Cobain’s songwriting, then set it to a 90s-era grunge soundtrack, and you’ve got Nirvana Is Here."

Follow Aaron Hamburger on Instagram, @aaronhamburger1.  

To learn more about Aaron and his work, explore his website: https://aaronhamburger.com/

To purchase Nirvana is Here head on over to: https://bookshop.org/books/nirvana-is-here/9781941110775

To listen to Charlie Thurston read Nirvana is Here, head to Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Nirvana-is-Here-Audiobook/1541431650

Watch the Zoom video of this interview on our Patreon, https://www.patreon.com/ivorytowerboilerroom. 

Follow Ivory Tower Boiler Room on Facebook, @ivorytowerboilerroom, Instagram, @ivorytowerboilerroom, TikTok, @ivorytowerboilerroom, and Twitter, @IvoryBoilerRoom! Email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you about the podcast and are always interested in interview suggestions.

Many thanks to the Ivory Tower Boiler Room podcast team:

Andrew Rimby, Executive Director Mary DiPipi, Chief Contributor Ceren Usta, Marketing Director

Thanks for "Capricorn" Sophie! Check out Anne Sophie Andersen's Seasons promo video. Composer: Anne Sophie Andersen (follow her on Instagram, @anne_sophie_andersen), Dancer: Daisy Payero, Video: Cecilie Beck Kronborg (follow her on Instagram, @ceciliebeckofficial)

Credit to Universal Music for "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (Nirvana).