Liminal Subversions: Karan Madhok’s Poetics of Decay: ‘Madhok's narrative thus offers a prescient, sophisticated, and empathetic expose, without capitulating to polemic or sentimentalism, of not only a tale of two cultures but a tale of two hates joined at the hip by the near-cosmic self-replicating propulsion of human fallibility and systemic hubris.’A review of A Beautiful Decay by Paromita Patranobish for gulmohur quarterly.
Alumni Reading at 826DC: I’ll be reading alongside other American University MFA Creative Writing alumni for the Visiting Writers Series on March 6, 2024.
Five amazing literary gems from India coming out in 2024: Explore the rich history and multifaceted usage of cannabis in India with Karan Madhok's non-fiction work, Ananda. - By Prachi Rijhwani on NewsBytes.
24 reading goals for 2024: Ananda: A Journey into India’s Ancient Complex Relationship with Cannabis (Aleph) by Karan Madhok is about the author’s travels across the country to document the medical and scientific uses of the plant, as well as its history in the country’s counterculture. - By Udhbhav Seth. January 7, 2024.
The 15 most-anticipated Indian books of 2024: Ananda: A Journey into India’s Ancient Complex Relationship with Cannabis by Karan Madhok - In this non-fiction publication… known as the first major biography of ganja, Karan Madhok travels to every corner of the country, delving into the medical and scientific uses of cannabis as well as the central place it occupies in the counter-culture of the subcontinent. - By Saachi Gupta for Vogue India. January 6, 2024.
Woodstock School Alumni Writers’ Residency: October 22 - November 4, 2023
‘Human artists should create art that has only sparsely existed before’: Writer Karan Madhok: “I think if one’s work is original enough – and resists being derivative as much as possible – then there is no need to fear AI-based software.” An Interview by Saurabh Sharma.
Conversation and Connections: Practical Advice on Writing - Conference in Washington D.C. on April 15, 2023 - organized by Barrelhouse in collaboration with American University Department of Literature & MFA Creative Writing Programme.
Landour Lecture Series: In conversation with Leandra Beabout about A Beautiful Decay at the 70th edition of the Landour Lecture Series in Landour, Mussoorie. March 26, 2023.
A Book Talk at Kunzum, New Delhi: In interview with Saurabh Sharma on A Beautiful Decay, voice, language, AI, and future projects! February 25, 2023.
GQ India’s Top 10 Indian fiction books of 2022: “An examination of hate, Madhok shows us the black heart of a journey of a student who dares to dream.” By Arman Khan for GQ India - December 30, 2022.
An Interview with Karan Madhok: “The novel is a meditation of how one can be a majority in one place, and a minority in other. Be the oppressor and the oppressed. Someone whose privileges bring him comfort in one land, and the same comforts bring him catastrophe in another.”. By Fernando Manibog for Cafe MFA - February 17, 2023.
A confident, thoroughly entertaining debut: Karan Madhok’s novel is a stunning commentary on transnationalism, privilege and the politics of hatred - By Aditya Mani Jha for Mint Lounge - December 12, 2022.
A Beautiful Decay by Karan Madhok: A Gut Punch from A Ghost - By Kiran Bhat for The Bangalore Review - December, 2022.
Books & things that matter: Newer authors are bringing to light uncomfortable social truths - By Julio Riberio on The Tribune - December 9, 2022.
Bound’s Best of 2022 Fiction: Featuring ‘A Beautiful Decay’ - December 28, 2022
The Goa Heritage Festival 2022: Speaking about humour and tragedy in A Beautiful Decay, a “hate-crime comedy”, with Pragya Bhagat. November 16, 2022.
What to read in 2023: My forthcoming nonfiction book, ‘Ananda: A Journey into India's Complex Relationship with Cannabis’ is listed among the titles to look forward to in 2023. By Deccan Chronicle - January 1, 2023.
The Federal’s 75 books to look out for in 2023: A selection of some notable works of non-fiction and fiction you can look forward to adding to your shelves and TBR lists in the new year - featuring my next book, tentatively titled ‘Ananda: A Journey into India’s Complex Relationship with Cannabis’ - By Nawaid Anjum on The Federal - January 4, 2023
A Beautiful Decay: In conversation with Author Karan Madhok: A conversation with Sreeja V. for Aleph Book Company’s official Swellcast. - November, 2022
