Nostalgia, cruises, and new kids: emma straub's latest dive
Emma Straub, the author and proprietor of Brooklyn’s beloved Books Are Magic, has charted a course into unexpected waters with her new novel, American Fantasy. It's a book about nostalgia, fandom, and a singular, surprisingly illuminating, experience aboard a New Kids on the Block cruise—a journey that began, she readily admits, as a form of therapeutic escape.
The unexpected muse: boy bands at sea
The genesis of American Fantasy is a story in itself. Following the loss of her father and the completion of a particularly somber book, Straub sought a creative palate cleanser. Her gaze landed upon an online advertisement for a New Kids on the Block cruise, and a novel idea took shape. “I just thought, Well, that’s my next novel,” she recounts in a recent interview with Vogue. The premise—a protagonist adrift amidst a sea of devoted fans—proved fertile ground for exploring the complexities of longing and belonging.
Straub’s decision to experience the cruise firsthand was not merely for research, though she concedes that played a significant role. “It was also for profound, deep, personal pleasure,” she explains. Opting for solitude, she deliberately avoided the social complexities of traveling with companions, choosing instead to “fade into the wallpaper as much as possible and just observe.” This deliberate detachment allowed her to meticulously document the dynamics of the cruise and its passengers, enriching her understanding of Annie, the novel’s protagonist.
Beyond the hype: what drives fandom?
American Fantasy taps into a universal wellspring of nostalgia, prompting the question: why do boy bands—and other childhood obsessions—hold such a powerful grip on our adult lives? Straub deftly sidesteps the cliché of dismissing fandom as frivolous, instead framing it as a profound connection to formative experiences. “The things that we love in childhood and adolescence have a profound hold on us,” she observes. For some, it’s boy bands; for others, horses, Laura Ingalls Wilder, or Harry Potter. The common thread is a yearning for a simpler time, a refuge from the anxieties of adulthood.
Straub’s own relationship with the New Kids on the Block is a testament to this phenomenon. Despite never having witnessed a live performance as a child—a fact that sparked a humorous exchange with her mother—her fandom remained a constant. The absence of that live experience, she suggests, may have even intensified her devotion. The book itself is a poignant exploration of this very sentiment – the enduring power of memories and the bittersweet ache of unfulfilled desires.
Balancing the demands of running Books Are Magic with the creation of American Fantasy required a village, Straub admits. A trusted staff and her supportive husband ensured the bookstore thrived while she immersed herself in the world of NKOTB and her characters. “My family got really sick of me talking about New Kids on the Block,” she laughs, a testament to the novel’s all-consuming nature.
American Fantasy is not just a quirky exploration of fandom and nostalgia; it’s a reflection on loss, healing, and the unexpected places where we find solace. Straub proves, with characteristic wit and insight, that even the most seemingly frivolous pursuits can yield profound truths.