The
book Hillbilly Elegy has become a talking point for many. Its author,
J.D. Vance, has become a vocal right-wing politician while the film adaptation
was ruthlessly panned. Yet, I found myself curiously drawn to the story.
There
had to be a reason it led to all this aftermath. The reason, I found out, was
that it is an inspiring read. Following a boy’s adolescence in poor Appalachia,
I found myself sympathizing and learning something about the struggles blue-collar folks face.
While my upbringing was nowhere near as dramatic as Vance’s, I
could relate. I grew up on a farm. My parents worked hard. When I moved to the
big city, I felt out of place – which he illustrates beautifully here. I feel
it is an important read for anyone looking to broaden their view or get
inspiration on how to write a simple but effective memoir.
THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Coming November 2020 as a major motion picture from Netflix starring Amy Adams and Glenn Close
'The political book of the year' Sunday Times
'A frank, unsentimental, harrowing memoir ... A superb book' New York Post
'I bought this to try to better understand Trump's appeal ... but the memoir is so much more than that. A gripping, unputdownable page-turner' India Knight, Evening Standard
J. D. Vance grew up in the hills of Kentucky. His family and friends were the people most of the world calls rednecks, hillbillies or white trash.
I
am an Academy Awards nerd. I don’t think that description does it justice
though. A worshipper? An obsessed fanatic? It’s impossible to over emphasize.
So, when I saw there was a new book about Oscar History, I was drawn to it like
a moth to the flame. I went in confident and snarky like I already knew
everything that the book contained, but I was pleasantly surprised. The book is
not a conventional retelling of the entire Award show history.
It picks certain
points in history that were important, dives deep, and illustrates change and
turmoil through those details. Roughly one deep dive chapter per decade. It’s a
very fun read.
The author of the New York Times bestseller Her Again: Becoming Meryl Streep returns with a lively history of the Academy Awards, focusing on the brutal battles, the starry rivalries, and the colorful behind-the-scenes drama.
America does not have royalty. It has the Academy Awards. For nine decades, perfectly coiffed starlets, debonair leading men, and producers with gold in their eyes have chased the elusive Oscar. What began as an industry banquet in 1929 has now exploded into a hallowed ceremony, complete with red carpets, envelopes, and little gold men. But don't be fooled by the pomp: the Oscars, more…
I
had never heard the name Richard Price. Then I connected the dots one day. He
wrote one of my all-time favorite movies – The Color of Money – plus a
handful of other New York set shaggy dog tales of lonesome losers.
I read The
Wanderers, his most famous work, but I was most captivated by Ladies’
Man. Price has a skill for capturing male angst, sleaze, and lust, but none
of his works compare to the engaging tale of a frustrated salesman. It is a
hilarious, cringy, memorable read soaked in 1970s values.
Kenny Becker just dumped his girlfriend--the reasons are a little complex. Young and newly unemployed, his main assets at the moment are six-pack abs and a healthy libido--he's ready to get out, find a little action, and maybe find himself too. But New York is no place for the lonely, and with one meaningless sexual encounter after another, Kenny begins to wonder if the singles scene is not itself a complete con job, with his heart and his future at stake. Raunchy, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt, this 1978 clubland slice-of-life displays Richard Price in gritty good form.
Charlie Fritz is a Hollywood talent agent hanging onto his career by a thread. Luckily, success comes his way in the form of his presumed-to-be-dead father. When Bernie Fritz mysteriously arrives in the middle of Los Angeles by taxi, it’s evident he doesn’t remember anything about his prior life, but the white-robe-wearing man does have a cryptic message from the afterlife to share with anyone who will listen.
After Bernie’s message goes viral and creates a social media sensation, Charlie seizes the opportunity to become his dad’s agent. It’s the perfect opportunity for them to finally connect and find a little meaning in their lives—even if for one of them, life is technically over.
