“Writing, I Can’t Waste Time”: Alejandro Varela & the Political Public Health Novel - Apogee Journal

In his debut novel "The Town of Babylon," Alejandro Varela tells the story of Andrés, a Latinx professor whose reluctant suburban homecoming rekindles old high-school friendships and past loves. As Andrés negotiates personal ties and the social frictions running through them, Varela weaves a discerning account on the interpersonal and political definitions of community. In an interview with Executive Editor Alexandra Watson, Varela discusses the inspirations behind the novel - his experiences growing up in a white-majority suburb, and how studying and working in public health illuminated his writing and understanding of the "American Dream."

In his debut novel "The Town of Babylon," Alejandro Varela tells the story of Andrés, a Latinx professor whose reluctant suburban homecoming rekindles old high-school friendships and past loves. As Andrés negotiates personal ties and the social frictions running through them, Varela weaves a discerning account on the interpersonal and political definitions of community. In an interview with Executive Editor Alexandra Watson, Varela discusses the inspirations behind the novel - his experiences growing up in a white-majority suburb, and how studying and working in public health illuminated his w