Jeff Hiller Reflects on Life in ‘Somebody Somewhere’ and Beyond
Emerging onto the spotlight during the hit series ‘Somebody Somewhere’, Jeff Hiller has made his mark not only on HBO but also in the comedy scene nestled around Joe’s Pub in New York. However, his personal and artistic journey started long before these accomplishments, in the heart of 1980s Texas, where he grew up as a young gay man. His memoir, composed of reflective essays, provides an insightful look into these formative years spent within the confines of a small-town Lutheran church as well as his early ventures into the world of entertainment. Deploying his characteristic audacity and humor, Hiller offers his readers a candid glimpse into the evolution from his past to his present self.
Taylor Jenkins Reid, a renowned novelist whose adaptations have waited in the wings for years, has finally seen her work come alive on the screen, most notably in the Amazon Prime triumph, Daisy Jones & The Six. As the audience eagerly anticipates her next literary work to make the leap from page to screen, Reid continues to produce captivating novels. Her latest novel for summer, ‘Atmosphere’, details the journey of a female astronaut who discovers romance amidst her training for a mission to space.
Shawn Levy, prolific biographer of esteemed Hollywood figures such as Robert De Niro and Paul Newman, seemingly has the knack of getting at the heart of cinematic giants. So, it was inevitably only a matter of time before Clint Eastwood found his way onto Levy’s workbench. In the first extensive textual study of the actor-director’s illustrious 95-year-old career, ‘Clint: The Man and the Movies’ probes into Eastwood’s on-screen landmarks, his human weaknesses, and his old-guard libertarian viewpoints with a balanced perspective.
Adam Roberts, widely recognized in the digital realm as ‘The Amateur Gourmet’, has blazed his own trail by turning a career in food blogging and screenplay writing into true-to-life, fictionally engrossing narratives. His debut novel, ‘Food Person’, centralizes on Isabella Pasternack’s character, a struggling writer who finds herself embroiled in the task of ghostwriting a cookbook for a onetime television darling, who’s now steeped in controversy. The narrative, a mix of riotous moments, satire, and palpable culinary descriptions, insists that it is not to be tackled on an unoccupied stomach.
Gary Baum’s ‘In Pursuit of Beauty’ follows the extraordinary descent of a Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon, whose peculiar practices leave her incarcerated. Additionally, it scrutinizes the unassuming journalist who decides to chronicle her tale from inside her prison cell. The novel explores power dynamics, ethical boundaries, and the lengths some will go to preserve an image.
Comedic savant and Harvard Lampoon alumni, Aisha Muharrar, made her mark in some of the field’s standout series such as Parks and Recreation, The Good Place, and Hacks, earning an Emmy for her brilliant work on its third season. Her forthcoming novel, ‘Loved One’, however, strikes a more somber chord than her television work. The story is about a young woman, propelled by the loss of a close friend and past love from L.A. to London to grapple with his unexpected death. The narrative unfolds as she finds herself at odds with his most recent ex over his belongings, as they both wrestle with their untold grief.
Jon Raymond, collaborative screenwriter with renowned talents Kelly Reichardt and Todd Haynes is the craftsman behind works like First Cow, Showing Up, Mildred Pierce, and a dashed project with Haynes and Joaquin Phoenix. He positions his latest novel amidst the picturesque Pacific Northwest, where life and industry are radically challenged by climate change. The plot follows Arthur who embarks on an extramarital affair with his friend’s wife and seeks solace in divine help when a climatic catastrophe looms over her survival. This plot intertwines a pressing environmental crisis with personal affairs, producing a riveting narrative.
Damon Young, celebrated for his pioneering memoir ‘What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker’, his blog Very Smart Brothas, and his Crooked Media podcast Stuck, has forged a unique media presence interpreting the dimensions of Black culture. In his recent endeavor, ‘That’s How They Get You: An Unruly Anthology of Black American Humor’, he congregates a selection of essays, short stories, and letters that delve into the fabric of humor originating from and about the Black community. To curate this collection, he enlisted leading literary contributors, such as Hanif Abdurraqib, Kiese Laymon, and Roy Wood Jr., providing a nuanced perspective on comedic culture.