In The New Yorker Fiction Podcast, Deborah Treisman interviews David Wright-Falladay about Madeleine Thien's short story, "Lou Reshaping," which appeared in The New Yorker in December 2021. Wright-Falladay discusses his initial intimidation by the story's subtlety, its exploration of Lou's internal experiences versus external perceptions, and Thien's skillful use of compressed form to evoke deep emotion. The conversation explores themes of control, identity, and shame, particularly as they relate to Lou's experience as an immigrant woman in the workplace, her sexuality as an act of rebellion, and the complexities of her relationships with her family and colleagues. They analyze Lou's character, her motivations, and the story's ending, highlighting the tension between societal expectations and her personal agency.
