Hermione Hoby Untangles a Web of Perceptions

At Vol 1 Brooklyn, Hermione Hoby discusses her new novel, Virtue, and why she chooses to focus on characters rather than themes in her writing process. “What I love about novels is the way in which a web of refracted perceptions constitute meaning,” Hoby says. “Novels are vehicles for ideas, but I think they must also deliver pleasure and beauty. The way they do this is through character. In other words, the only way these things you mention are elements of the novel is through the novel’s characters. (I greatly admire DeLillo and co, but I have not written a systems novel!)”