Rigoberto González’s recent book of poetry, “The Book of Ruin,” has a dark core. “It’s an apocalyptic narrative,” González tells The Times in a video interview. “I’m imagining the end of the world: climate change, all of the different damage that we’ve done to this world. I’m exploring the ways in which the land, the sea, the air, nature is speaking back to us.”
González says that he usually writes from the points of view of people, but in his latest book, he adopts the mind-set of the natural entities as he tries to give them voice.
His 12 books of prose include two bilingual children’s books and three young adult novels. He is a critic at large for The Times, and he sat down for a video chat about his poetry and some of his literary influences.
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Author of “He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes From My Transgender Journey,” Gigi Gorgeous is photographed in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Lilliam Rivera in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Jericho Brown, author of “The Tradition,” in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Janet Fitch in the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Lilliam Rivera in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “The Tradition,” Jericho Brown, in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “The Book of Ruin,” Rigoberto Gonzalez, in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Kwame Alexander at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author and Los Angeles Times columnist Patt Morrison at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Ruth Reichl at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author and Times columnist Steve Lopez at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Kwame Alexander at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Rigoberto Gonzalez, author of “The Book of Ruin,” in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Ruth Reichl at the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author of “He Said, She Said: Lessons, Stories, and Mistakes from My Transgender Journey,” Gigi Gorgeous is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Susan Orlean in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Don Winslow in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Janet Fitch in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Susan Orlean in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Sandra Cisneros in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Dave Barry in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Damon Young in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Dave Barry in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Sandra Cisneros in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Damon Young in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC.
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Author Karamo Brown is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Marcellus Wiley is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Adam Higginbotham is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Karamo Brown is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Illustrator of the children’s series “Fancy Nancy,” Robin Preiss Glasser is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Cory Doctorow is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Bret Easton Ellis is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Henry Thomas is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Yesika Salgado is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Illustrator of the children’s series “Fancy Nancy,” Robin Preiss Glasser is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Maurene Goo is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Bret Easton Ellis is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Laila Lalami is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Jasmine Guillory is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio at USC.
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Author Glory Edim is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author T.C. Boyle is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
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Author Glory Edim is photographed in the L.A. Times Festival of Books photo studio, at USC. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
