Jen Beagin Explained
Jen Beagin (born 1971) is an American novelist and writer.
Life and career
Early life and education
Beagin grew up in Torrance, California, and moved to Lowell, Massachusetts, in her youth.[1] She returned to college in her mid-30s,[2] and attended the University of Massachusetts Boston.[3] She earned an MFA in Writing from the University of California, Irvine.[4] [5]
Professional life
Among other jobs, Beagin was a long time housecleaner. This inspired the character of Mona, who is the housecleaner protagonist of her first two books.
Published works
Pretend I'm Dead (2015)
Pretend I'm Dead, her first novel, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews which also noted it among the Best Fiction of 2018.[6] Pretend I'm Dead was shortlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize.[7] The popular website Emily Books gave an early positive review of the book,[8] the first edition of which was published by Northwestern University Press in 2015.[9] The novel was reissued as a hardcover in 2018 by Simon & Schuster.[10]
Vacuum in the Dark (2019)
Vacuum in the Dark,[11] a sequel to Pretend I'm Dead, received a starred Kirkus review and was named a best book for February 2019 by Oprah Magazine.[12] Publishers Weekly has a starred review, calling it "a sharp and superb novel" that "pulls no punches—this novel is viciously smart and morbidly funny."[13]
Big Swiss (2023)
Big Swiss is about a woman who transcribes sex therapy sessions and how she falls for a client Flavia, the titular "Big Swiss".
Publishers Weekly Tip Sheet notes that "This unconventional love story has a surplus of appeal from page one."[14]
Critical reception
Entertainment Weekly said: "Beagin stands out among fiction's fresh crop of promising voices."[15] NPR Books says that "Beagin is a wonderfully funny writer who also happens to tackle serious subjects."[16]
Awards and nominations
Awards
Bibliography
Novels
- Book: Beagin, Jen. Pretend I'm Dead. 2018. Simon & Schuster. 978-1501183935. . 1.
- Book: Beagin, Jen. Vacuum in the Dark. 2019. Simon & Schuster. 978-1501182143. . 1.
- Book: Beagin, Jen . . Simon & Schuster . 2023 . 978-1982153083 . . 1.
Short fiction
Essays
Book: Beagin, Jen.
PowellsBooks.Blog: Original Essays. 2018. Bees. . 1.
Book: Beagin, Jen.
Publishers Weekly. 2019. On Dogs and the Unique Hell of Writing Novels. . 1.
See also
Articles
- Book: Hart, Michelle. Oprah Magazine. 26 February 2019. 10 Smart, Hilarious Cleaning Tips from Vacuum in the Dark Novelist Jen Beagin. .
Excerpts
"Y
oko and Yoko" excerpt from
Pretend I'm Dead (
2016)
[21]
cerpt from "Hole" in
Pretend I'm Dead (2015)
[22]
oop" excerpt from
Vacuum in the Dark (2019)
[23] Interviews and readings
News:
Somewhere on the Path Towards Self-Awareness: An Interview with Jen Beagin. Ragsdale. Melissa. 2015. Electric Literature.
News:
Jen Beagin reads from 'Pretend I'm Dead'. 2017. (video) Whiting Foundation.
News:
Jen Beagin on How She Began to Write Fiction. 2019. (video) Simon & Schuster.
News:
Jen Beagin Counters the BS of Who You're Supposed to Be in Your 20s. Bartnett. Erin. 2019. Electric Literature.
Jen Beagin on writing bad boyfriends, worse behavior, and a hilarious new literary hero. Canfield. David. 2019. Entertainment Weekly.
References
Notes and References
- Web site: Hole In One: Jen Beagin. Gutman. Jennifer. Chronogram Magazine. en. 2019-03-12.
- Web site: Somewhere on the Path Towards Self-Awareness: An Interview with Jen Beagin. Ragsdale. Melissa. 2015-12-17. Electric Literature. 2019-03-12.
- Web site: Hole In One: Jen Beagin. Gutman. Jennifer. Chronogram Magazine. en. 2019-03-12.
- Web site: UCI M.F.A. alumna Jen Beagin '11 receives Whiting Award in fiction. www.humanities.uci.edu. 2019-03-03.
- Web site: UC Irvine MFA Alumni Publications. en-US. 2019-03-17.
- Web site: Kirkus Review: Pretend I'm Dead by Jen Beagin. 15 May 2018. Kirkus Reviews. en.
- Web site: 2018 Short List for Fiction First Novel Prize. centerforfiction.org. 2019-03-18.
- Web site: Pretend I'm Dead Emily Books. www.emilybooks.com. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Pretend I'm Dead Northwestern University Press. nupress.northwestern.edu. 2019-03-01.
- Book: Pretend I'm Dead. Beagin. Jen. Simon & Schuster. 2018. 9781501194429. 240. en.
- Book: Beagin, Jen. Vacuum in the Dark. Simon & Schuster. 2019. 9781501182143. en.
- Web site: These 4 Newly-Released Books Will Give You Plenty to Talk About at the Dinner Table. 2019-02-12. Oprah Magazine. en-US. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Fiction Book Review: Vacuum in the Dark by Jen Beagin. www.publishersweekly.com. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Big Swiss by Jen Beagin . 2022-10-15 . www.publishersweekly.com.
- Web site: Jen Beagin on writing bad boyfriends, worse behavior, and a hilarious new literary hero. Canfield. David. 2019-02-26. EW.com. Entertainment Weekly. en. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: 'Vacuum In The Dark' Is Fun, Funny — But Never Frivolous. Schaub. Michael. 2019-02-26 . NPR.org. NBR Books. en. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Jen Beagin, 2017 Winner in Fiction. Beagin. Jen. www.whiting.org. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Whiting Honorees. 2017-03-22. The Paris Review. en. 2019-03-06.
- Web site: 2018 First Novel Prize Shortlist. centerforfiction.org. 2019-03-01.
- Web site: Wodehouse prize for comic fiction returns with six nominees. Press Association. 2019-04-17. Evening Express. en-US. 2019-04-18.
- Web site: Yoko & Yoko. louisville.edu. University of Louisville Miracle Monocle, Issue #8. 2019-03-12.
- Web site: Jen Beagin, Fiction. Honorees. Whiting. 2017-03-22. The Paris Review. en. 2019-03-30.
- Web site: Vacuum in the Dark. 2019-02-26. Literary Hub. en-US. 2019-03-12.