Author Biography | Interview | Books by this Author | Readalikes
Dave King holds a BFA in painting and film from Cooper Union and an MFA in writing from Columbia University. King's debut novel, The Ha-Ha, was named one of the best books of 2005 by The Christian Science Monitor and The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and was among eighteen books included on The Washington Post list of the season's best novels. The Ha-Ha was a finalist for Book-of-the-Month Club's "Best Literary Fiction" award and the Quills Foundation "Best Debut Author" award and won King a 2006-07 Rome Prize Fellowship from the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
King's poetry has been published in The Paris Review, among other venues, and has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize. He has taught English at Baruch College and cultural studies and poetry at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and he divides his time between Brooklyn and the Hudson Valley of New York.
Dave King's website
This bio was last updated on 03/26/2016. We try to keep BookBrowse's biographies both up to date and accurate, but with many thousands of lives to keep track of it's a tough task. So, please help us - if the information about this author is out of date or inaccurate, and you know of a more complete source, please let us know. Authors and publishers: If you wish to make changes to a bio, send the complete biography as you would like it displayed so that we can replace the old with the new.
Probably the question most frequently asked of any author finishing a
manuscript is where exactly did the book come from? In the case of The Ha-Ha,
the question has two parts. The first part involves the origins of protagonist
Howard Kapostash, a character whose traumatic brain injury limits his
communication within the world of the book, though he speaks articulately and
intimately to the reader, while the second part involves the genesis and
significance of the ha-ha itself. I think that by answering each part
individually I may illuminate the book's genesis.
Howard's most obvious antecedent is my older brother Hank, who was profoundly
autistic throughout his life. When I was a child, my understanding of Hank's
disability was complicated and unresolved, and my long interest in those who are
different--and differently abled--undoubtedly stems from this childhood
curiosity. In some ways, my boyhood vision of Hank was that of most little
brothers: he was a robust and handsome presence, big and blond and athletic and
gray-eyed. At the same time, it was clear that whatever interesting sibling
relationship my friends and cousins enjoyed was not happening with us. My
brother was unpredictable and unreachable...
Become a Member and discover books that entertain, engage & enlighten.
The Dutch House is my introduction to Ann Patchett, which, after reading it, surprises me. I had ...
The Fortunate Ones
by Ed Tarkington
An engrossing story of class, love, and loyalty for fans of Kevin Wilson's Nothing to See Here.
Reader ReviewsThe Prophets
by Robert Jones Jr.
A stunning debut novel about the forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a Deep South plantation.
Reader ReviewsThe House on Vesper Sands by Paraic O'Donnell
Introducing a detective duo for the ages who unlock the secrets of a startling Victorian mystery.
Visitors can view some of BookBrowse for free. Full access is for members only.
Your guide toexceptional books
BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.