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The Daily Mississippian
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    The only sober ones in the room: Oxford bartenders serve as a safety net

    The only sober ones in the room: Oxford bartenders serve as a safety net

    Being the first: First generation students share experience, struggles and misconceptions

    Being the first: First generation students share experience, struggles and misconceptions

    ASB passes preferred pronoun policy

    ASB passes preferred pronoun policy

    The reality of NIL

    The reality of NIL

    Artificial intelligence presents new challenge to the university

    Artificial intelligence presents new challenge to the university

    Video of arrest sparks controversy

    Video of arrest sparks controversy

  • Sports
    Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

    Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

    Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

    Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

    Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

    Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

    The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

    The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

    Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

    Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

    Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

    Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

  • Arts & Culture
    New semester, new music: a list of spring semester’s most anticipated albums

    New semester, new music: a list of spring semester’s most anticipated albums

    The music venues that make Oxford

    Who’s coming to Oxford this spring

    Long awaited “The Last of US” makes HBO debut

    Long awaited “The Last of US” makes HBO debut

    New movies light up the box office

    New movies light up the box office

  • Opinion

    The Black experience: something greater than just me

    Staff Editorial: Too much

    Cameras in the classroom and useless image politics

    A year 2 remember

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  • News
    The only sober ones in the room: Oxford bartenders serve as a safety net

    The only sober ones in the room: Oxford bartenders serve as a safety net

    Being the first: First generation students share experience, struggles and misconceptions

    Being the first: First generation students share experience, struggles and misconceptions

    ASB passes preferred pronoun policy

    ASB passes preferred pronoun policy

    The reality of NIL

    The reality of NIL

    Artificial intelligence presents new challenge to the university

    Artificial intelligence presents new challenge to the university

    Video of arrest sparks controversy

    Video of arrest sparks controversy

  • Sports
    Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

    Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

    Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

    Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

    Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

    Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

    The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

    The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

    Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

    Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

    Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

    Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

  • Arts & Culture
    New semester, new music: a list of spring semester’s most anticipated albums

    New semester, new music: a list of spring semester’s most anticipated albums

    The music venues that make Oxford

    Who’s coming to Oxford this spring

    Long awaited “The Last of US” makes HBO debut

    Long awaited “The Last of US” makes HBO debut

    New movies light up the box office

    New movies light up the box office

  • Opinion

    The Black experience: something greater than just me

    Staff Editorial: Too much

    Cameras in the classroom and useless image politics

    A year 2 remember

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Gene Kwak in conversation with Square Books for “Go Home, Ricky!”

Will JonesbyWill Jones
October 28, 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read

On Tuesday evening, author Gene Kwak discussed his debut novel —  “Go Home, Ricky!” — with a virtual audience, along with fellow author Michael Bible, a University of Mississippi MFA graduate. During the event, hosted by Square Books, the participants offered a wide variety of insights into the craft of novelistic writing and influence, and delved into the specifics of Kwak’s satirical novel: A searing, intimate and witty glimpse into the life of a washed-up semi-professional wrestler. 

Photo Courtesy / goodreads.com

In spite of “Go Home, Ricky!” being his debut novel, the inclination to write and create has been within Kwak as far back as he can remember. Many hours of his formative years were spent reading at the various public libraries that populated Nebraska, specifically in his home town of Omaha, Nebraska, which also serves as the setting of his novel.

“We can’t help what we write about or what we’re drawn toward,” Kwak said. “This book is my love-letter to Omaha.”

Despite being a reader since childhood, Kwak never believed his future career would ever capitalize on that interest. Being the child of two immigrant parents, the opportunity to vocationally gamble on becoming an author seemed almost otherworldly. It was only upon taking a collegiate literary journalism class that Kwak began to see his life and career trajectory widen. 

In addition to writing, another childhood interest of Kwak’s was in the world of professional wrestling, specifically at the height of the WWF — now known as the WWE — fandom in the 1980s and 1990s. Kwak credits being commissioned to write a piece on Randy “Macho Man” Savage as the initial inspiration for his book’s wrestling backdrop.

“There are not many wrestling novels out there,” Kwak said. “I wanted to shine a light on the rich metaphor and fertile dramatic life of the sports genre.” 

The main metaphor of a wrestling persona versus a “real life” persona greatly interested Kwak, providing a vital gateway into exploring issues of identity and male-crisis, but in his own unique manner. 

“(‘Go Home, Ricky!’) is a great pairing of lyricism and humor,” Bible said.

While incredibly humorous, “Go Home, Ricky!” never looks down upon its subjects, which can largely be attributed to how personal the story truly is to Kwak. 

“It’s a story about family… a story about place,” Kwak said. 

While only his debut, “Go Home, Ricky!” seems to serve as Kwak finishing his own personal match, following in the footsteps of his literary heroes by combining lifelong interests and insights to craft something truly one-of-a-kind. 

“Go Home, Ricky!” is now available in hardcover. Signed bookplate editions are available at Square Books in Oxford and on their website.

In Case You Missed It

Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

14 hours ago
Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

14 hours ago
Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

14 hours ago
The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

14 hours ago
Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

2 days ago
Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

2 days ago

Gene Kwak in conversation with Square Books for “Go Home, Ricky!”

Will JonesbyWill Jones
October 28, 2021
Reading Time: 2 mins read

On Tuesday evening, author Gene Kwak discussed his debut novel —  “Go Home, Ricky!” — with a virtual audience, along with fellow author Michael Bible, a University of Mississippi MFA graduate. During the event, hosted by Square Books, the participants offered a wide variety of insights into the craft of novelistic writing and influence, and delved into the specifics of Kwak’s satirical novel: A searing, intimate and witty glimpse into the life of a washed-up semi-professional wrestler. 

Photo Courtesy / goodreads.com

In spite of “Go Home, Ricky!” being his debut novel, the inclination to write and create has been within Kwak as far back as he can remember. Many hours of his formative years were spent reading at the various public libraries that populated Nebraska, specifically in his home town of Omaha, Nebraska, which also serves as the setting of his novel.

“We can’t help what we write about or what we’re drawn toward,” Kwak said. “This book is my love-letter to Omaha.”

Despite being a reader since childhood, Kwak never believed his future career would ever capitalize on that interest. Being the child of two immigrant parents, the opportunity to vocationally gamble on becoming an author seemed almost otherworldly. It was only upon taking a collegiate literary journalism class that Kwak began to see his life and career trajectory widen. 

In addition to writing, another childhood interest of Kwak’s was in the world of professional wrestling, specifically at the height of the WWF — now known as the WWE — fandom in the 1980s and 1990s. Kwak credits being commissioned to write a piece on Randy “Macho Man” Savage as the initial inspiration for his book’s wrestling backdrop.

“There are not many wrestling novels out there,” Kwak said. “I wanted to shine a light on the rich metaphor and fertile dramatic life of the sports genre.” 

The main metaphor of a wrestling persona versus a “real life” persona greatly interested Kwak, providing a vital gateway into exploring issues of identity and male-crisis, but in his own unique manner. 

“(‘Go Home, Ricky!’) is a great pairing of lyricism and humor,” Bible said.

While incredibly humorous, “Go Home, Ricky!” never looks down upon its subjects, which can largely be attributed to how personal the story truly is to Kwak. 

“It’s a story about family… a story about place,” Kwak said. 

While only his debut, “Go Home, Ricky!” seems to serve as Kwak finishing his own personal match, following in the footsteps of his literary heroes by combining lifelong interests and insights to craft something truly one-of-a-kind. 

“Go Home, Ricky!” is now available in hardcover. Signed bookplate editions are available at Square Books in Oxford and on their website.

In Case You Missed It

Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

Rebels run wild at Razorback Invitational

14 hours ago
Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

Ole Miss men’s tennis falls to Princeton

14 hours ago
Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

Lady Rebels claw back to stun the Razorbacks in overtime: Three takeaways

14 hours ago
The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

The short-handed Rebels become a casualty of the Big 12-SEC Challenge

14 hours ago
Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

Ole Miss’ top prospects declare for the 2023 NFL Draft

2 days ago
Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

Summarizing Ole Miss’ transfer portal additions

2 days ago

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