Author Tom Perrotta appeared on The Late Show Book Club this month to discuss his new novel, "Ghost Town" [1].
The appearance highlights the intersection of contemporary literary trends and 1970s nostalgia, as Perrotta examines the formative experiences of adolescence and family expectations.
During the segment, Perrotta said themes of his 2026 novel [2]. The story features a protagonist named Jimmy who is 13 years old at the start of the book [3]. Perrotta used the platform to discuss the specific atmosphere of the 1970s and how those memories shape the narrative structure of the work.
Beyond the plot of the novel, the author shared personal anecdotes about his own youth. He said a teenage obsession with "The Lord of the Rings" and how those early interests influenced his later creative pursuits [1]. He also addressed the pressures of academic achievement during his upbringing. "My mom was the one who always said, 'My kids are going to college,'" Perrotta said [4].
The conversation also touched upon Perrotta's professional experience with screen adaptations. Having written works that transitioned from page to screen, he said the process of translating literary themes into visual media [1].
The book-club episode aired in May 2026 [1]. It provided a venue for the author to connect his personal history with the fictional world of "Ghost Town," a project that revisits a specific era of U.S. life through the eyes of a young boy [3].
“"My mom was the one who always said, 'My kids are going to college,'"”
Perrotta's focus on 1970s nostalgia in "Ghost Town" reflects a broader literary trend of revisiting the pre-digital era to examine the development of identity. By discussing his childhood interests and parental expectations on a national platform, Perrotta contextualizes the novel as both a fictional narrative and a reflection of the socioeconomic pressures facing American youth in the mid-to-late 20th century.
