Adam Johnson (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Johnson
|
|
|---|---|
Johnson in 2006
|
|
| Born | July 12, 1967 South Dakota, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author, lecturer |
| Education | Arizona State University, Tempe (BA) McNeese State University (MFA) Florida State University (PhD) |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award |
Adam Johnson (born July 12, 1967) is a famous American writer. He writes both novels (long stories) and short stories. He won the important Pulitzer Prize for his book The Orphan Master's Son in 2012. He also won the National Book Award for his collection of short stories called Fortune Smiles in 2015. Besides writing, he teaches English and creative writing at Stanford University.
Contents
Early Life and Background
Adam Johnson was born in South Dakota. He grew up in Tempe, Arizona. He is also part of the Sioux Native American people.
Education and Learning Journey
Johnson studied at several universities. In 1992, he earned a degree in Journalism from Arizona State University. There, he mainly focused on writing fiction.
Later, in 1996, he received a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree. This was from the writing program at McNeese State University. He continued his studies and earned a PhD in English in 2001 from Florida State University.
Writing Career and Books
Johnson is a writer and a professor in San Francisco. He teaches creative writing at Stanford University.
Award-Winning Novels and Stories
Johnson wrote the novel The Orphan Master's Son (2012). This book is about the mysterious country of North Korea. A famous reviewer, Michiko Kakutani, called it a "daring and remarkable novel." She said it explores the meaning of love and sacrifice. Johnson became interested in this topic because he noticed how propaganda (information used to promote a political cause) is used everywhere.
He also wrote short-story collections. These include Emporium and Fortune Smiles. His novel Parasites Like Us won a California Book Award in 2003. His stories have appeared in popular magazines like Esquire and Harper's Magazine.
Themes in His Writing
Johnson's stories often focus on characters who feel alone. These characters are sometimes on the edge of society. They often struggle with feeling disconnected from others.
One writer, Michiko Kakutani, said his stories have a "melancholy melody of longing and loss." This means his characters often feel sad about things they've lost or wish they had. They also feel confused, like teenagers sometimes do. His stories show how life can be random. They also show how hard it is to make and keep connections with people.
Exploring New Ideas
Another writer, Daniel Mendelsohn, said Johnson's stories sometimes feel a bit futuristic. They show a busy American culture. These stories teach us something important. They show that we need to try new things and take risks. This helps make life more interesting and meaningful.
His work also has a funny, strange side. It's been called "funky new science fiction." This means it mixes humor with a bit of fear. For example, one story, "Teen Sniper," is about a young sniper who helps the police. Another story, "The Canadanaut," follows Canadian scientists trying to beat Russia to the moon.
Awards and Special Honors
Adam Johnson has received many awards for his writing:
- 1992 Swarthout Writing Award
- 2001 Kingsbury Fellowship
- 1999-2001 Stegner Fellowship
- 2002 Amazon.com Debut Writer of the Year
- 2002 New York Public Library Young Lions Award, nominee
- 2003 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers series
- 2005 Scholarship from Bread Loaf
- 2005 Scholarship from Sewanee writers' conferences
- 2009 Whiting Award
- 2010 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
- 2010 Gina Berriault Literary Award
- 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Orphan Master's Son
- 2013 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for The Orphan Master's Son
- 2014 Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award for "Nirvana"
- 2015 National Book Award for Fiction for Fortune Smiles
- 2016 Story Prize for Fortune Smiles
See also
In Spanish: Adam Johnson (escritor) para niños
