"An Orchestra of Minorities" is both Western and not

Author Chigozie Obioma’s latest novel (which releases tomorrow) is a hybrid, of sorts.

He tells NPR’s Scott Simon that while he wanted to write a novel that isn’t within the Western tradition, An Orchestra of Minorities is, at the same time, “very Western.”

So what does that mean? For starters, it’s a love story, but it’s told from the point of view of the romantic male lead’s guardian spirit.

And for a more in-depth discussion of what Obioma sought to do, besides simply tell a compelling story, listen to his interview below or read the transcript on NPR’s website.