"When you've been disappointed for that long in your life — what kind of people are you? What do you become?"

A Country You Can Leave, the debut novel from author Asale Angel-Ajani, is an unconventional family story following a Russian mother and Black, biracial daughter as they navigate class, trauma and relationships in California's desert. Angel-Ajani joins us in conversation about discovering her characters, the portrayal of motherhood, her literary influences, and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. Listen after the episode for a TBR Topoff from Marc and Madyson.

Featured Books (Episode):

A Country You Can Leave by Asale Angel-Ajani

Strange Trade by Asale Angel-Ajani

The Hour of the Star by Clarice Lispector

The Temple of My Familiar by Alice Walker

Another Country by James Baldwin

Featured Books (TBR Topoff):

I Will Die in a Foreign Land by Kalani Pickhart

On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

Poured Over is produced and hosted by Miwa Messer and mixed by Harry Liang. Follow us here for new episodes Tuesdays and Thursdays (with occasional Saturdays).