Blue Skies is the name of the new novel by TC Boyle.
© Britta Pedersen/dpa
Animals play a special role in TCBoyle’s life and work. In the evenings, the best-selling author likes to lie by the fireplace, reading and listening to music. His cat likes it too.
Munich – The US bestselling author TC Boyle has a close relationship with many animals, but has no weakness for constrictors.
“I’ve always found fish and all life forms that live in water exciting,” said the 74-year-old of the German Press Agency. “30 years ago I dug a 1.5 meter deep pond in my yard and made it a haven for fish, amphibians and aquatic insects.” There are few, if any, snakes in the yard. “Though this place is crawling with rats and a good bull snake or two would be welcome.”
Owning a constrictor is not what he desires deep down. In his new novel, Blue Skies, out May 15, one of the main characters has a dangerous liking for Burmese pythons. The relationship between humans and animals, civilization and nature threatened by climate change are central themes in the most recent work by the author, who lives in Santa Barbara, California.
He himself has three adult homo sapiens offspring as well as a Hungarian Puli dog and a Scottish Fold tomcat. “The kids are in their own homes now, but the dog is my constant companion,” Boyle said. “And the hangover spends the evenings on my chest while I lie on the couch by the fireplace, reading and listening to music. By the way, he prefers classical music – rock is too stirring for him.”
TC Boyle: Blue Skies. Hanser Verlag, Munich, 396 pages, 28 euros, ISBN 978-3-446-27689-5 dpa
