Lauren Elkin — "To me, it's all interesting."
What does it mean to be faithful?
This question is central to Lauren Elkin's debut novel, Scaffolding, which follows the trials and tribulations of two couples across time and space, occupying the same Paris apartment in 2019 and 1972. It is an incisive study of transformation—physical, emotional, geographical, familial. It is a question and questioning of desire: how we give it, show it, (try to) contain it, and ultimately let it shape us.
Lauren is known for nonfiction works like Flâneuse and Art Monsters, and the shape of this conversation moved in several directions, from reflecting on her previous books to global events. Lauren also shared more about her relationship with cities, her arrival at Scaffolding's central themes, and thoughts on the connection between grief, power, and time.
This episode also opens with a story from Hannah Bonner.
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Episode Transcript: https://slowstoriespodcast.com/lauren-elkin/
Follow Slow Stories on Substack: https://slowstories.substack.com/
Purchase Scaffolding: https://bookshop.org/p/books/scaffolding-lauren-elkin/21068842?ean=9780374615291
Purchase Another Woman: https://bookshop.org/p/books/another-woman-hannah-bonner/21488442?ean=9781958094549
Follow Lauren: @lauren_elkin_
Follow Hannah: @hannah__bonner
Follow Rachel: @rachelschwartzmann
Slow Stories
Hear from leading writers, artists, and innovators who share slow stories—and big ideas—about living, working, and creating more intentionally.
Hosted by Rachel Schwartzmann
Subscribe at slowstories.substack.com/
- No. of episodes: 64
- Latest episode: 2025-05-19
- Society & Culture
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