NPR

Siblings On A Strange Journey In 'Monster Portraits'

Sofia Samatar teams up with her brother Del, a tattoo artist, to create a new take on the fantastic bestiary. The result is a prose poem with jolts of autobiography, spiced with intricate drawings.
"Monster Portraits" by Del Samatar and Sofia Samatar

One day I called my brother on the phone. He didn't pick up, so I left a message saying we should tell our lives through monsters, as the ancient Egyptians told the year through the myth of Osiris. A mirror becomes architecture when you pass to the other side: this is what we had understood as children. I wanted to find that depth again, to plumb a vertical field.dopegive me the straight dope

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
Got Brothers Or Sisters? Warm Sibling Bonds Help Booster Happiness As You Age
Researchers have found that a warm, close bond with a sibling in early adult life is predictive of good emotional health later in life, with less loneliness, anxiety and depression.
NPR4 min read
We Asked, You Answered: Let's Make A Toast To The Ways You Keep Calm And Carry On
Our readers responded to our callout, sharing the strategies they use to lift their spirits in the face of setbacks and woes. And yes, one way is: A jam happy face on toast!
NPR3 min readInternational Relations
World Central Kitchen Says It Will Resume Operations In Gaza
The aid group said the humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire and that it has almost 8 million meals ready to distribute. The group halted efforts after Israeli strikes killed seven workers.

Related Books & Audiobooks