Chaos on the Highways: Insights from Vijay Khurana on Riding Shotgun
In a compelling exploration of masculinity, friendship, and violence, Vijay Khurana's debut novel, "The Passenger Seat," unfolds as a gripping journey divided into two narratives. The story commences with Teddy and Adam, teenaged schoolmates from Canada, embarking on a seemingly aimless road trip toward the north. As the duo, who straddle the line between boys and men, hit the road, the narrative escalates into a series of shocking acts of violence.
The book's second segment delves into the post-trauma reality of two older men, whose normal friendship presents an unsettling echo of the events that occurred. Journalist Kim spoke with Khurana to discuss the novel's treatment of masculinity, friendship, and the road.
Congratulations on your captivating novel! Has it been in the works for some time?
Khurana hinted that the desire to write about young men and their friendships sparked in 2017, while he was pursuing his Master's in creative writing in the UK. His observations revealed a pattern in his stories revolving around young male characters and their interactions, with many including themes of violence, similar to those present in "The Passenger Seat."
Khurana began conceiving this specific story in 2020, undergoing countless drafts and revisions until finding a publisher in 2022. The novel's dedication to a deep exploration of its themes can be attributed to the numerous rounds of editing that followed.
The intrigue of the road trip lies in its contrasting feelings of freedom and claustrophobia. Why did you zero in on this setting?
The paradox of the road trip sparked Khurana's imagination due to its dual nature of offering complete freedom while imposing a certain confinement. "[It's] an early experiment in adulthood, but at the same time, it's also an abnegation of the realities of adulthood," Khurana mused.
The road trip served as a powerful metaphor for both the evolving friendship of Teddy and Adam and the broader social implications of contemporary masculinity. Khurana's work, therefore, offers a profound meditation on male bonding interwoven with a social critique.
The narrative perspective you adopt—outside, yet close to the boys—is noteworthy. How did you decide on this approach?
Khurana felt it was essential to move between the characters to convey a friendship rather than focusing on one person. The narrative perspective allowed the reader to witness each character reflecting on themselves through the other and the other’s reactions to their actions, fostering a better understanding of their complex dynamics.
The author chose this perspective to avoid delving into the psychology of the perpetrators while concentrating on themes such as the performance of masculinity, the confines of friendship, and the act of game-playing.
"Fun and games" recur throughout the novel, hinting at an underlying perception of life as a playground with image-building and competition at its core. How does this notion play a role in the characters' actions?
Khurana suggests that when life becomes a game, people may dehumanize those around them, treating them as playthings. The boys in the book often employ their friendship as a tool for entertainment, pushing each other to disregard the consequences of their actions.
The use of games and mediation serves to separate the characters from the reality of their actions, specifically the violent repercussions that may result. Khurana seeks to question the dehumanizing effects of game-playing and challenge the readers to consider their own role in redefining the severity of their actions.
- "The Passenger Seat" is currently available in North America from Biblioasis, and it will be published in the UK by Peninsula Press on May 29.
After conceiving the story in 2020, Khurana's work, "The Passenger Seat," offered a profound meditation on male bonding interwoven with a social critique, providing an engaging exploration of the themes of masculinity, friendship, and entertainment. The novel, available in North America from Biblioasis and in the UK by Peninsula Press on May 29, deconstructs the notion that life can become a game, questioning the dehumanizing effects of such a perspective and challenging readers to reconsider the implications of their actions.
