Algonquin Goddess

Dorothy Parker is to writing what Mae West is to film.  She's witty, she's gorgeous, and she's way smarter than you or I.  Parker is probably most famous for her witty comebacks, often bandied about at the Algonquin Hotel after umpteen martinis, but her writing is a thing of beauty.  In fact, the Portable Dorothy Parker is the one of three Portable books that has never been out of print (the Bible and Shakespeare being the other two).  

Mae West was all about bawdiness, all about pushing the envelope through sex appeal, and Dorothy Parker most definitely did not shy away from that, but her writing goes deeper, it goes darker than most people remember.  Her multiple attempted suicides come out in some of her witty poems that rhyme and sound upbeat, but when read closely bring out a somber, painful disposition.  Parker was a complex individual, and is often written off as a witty lady who said better things than she wrote, but just trust me on this one, that judgement is off.  Way off.  

Penguin recently released the amazing book you see here with some extra writings that Parker didn't love, but I certainly do.  This is definitely one not to be missed.

Happy Reading,

Julia

Calling All Screenwriters

So I began working on a theory last year that Book Soup has the midas touch when it comes to screenwriters and Oscar wins.  Well, this year my theory has been proved.  That's right, the past three years in a row Book Soup has hosted the winner of the Best Screenplay Oscar.  Starting with Michael Arendt for Little Miss Sunshine, followed by Diablo Cody and this year we had the privilege of hosting both the winner for Best Original Screenplay and the winner for Best Adapted Screenplay. 

So by my calculations if you're a screenwriter and you have an event at Book Soup you'll win an Oscar (but don't hold me to that).

Congrats to Dustin Lance Black and Simon Beaufoy on their Oscars and the fantastic stories they told us.

Happy Reading,

Julia

The Truth is Out There

My junior high school self had a major fan girl moment last night when Matt Hurwitz and Frank Spotnitz came by to talk all things X-files.  This blog maven got a slight thrill when none other that Agent Scully showed up to answer questions for her adoring fans.  From the chance of a third X-files movie to the logistics of filming the t.v. show, all three of our guests stayed until every question was answered and then hung out to sign books, DVDs, Posters, whatever.  

Happy Reading,

Julia

I Love You, Larry Doyle

Perhaps you are like me and walked by a magazine stand when the amorphous inkblots that make up Rorschach's face winked at you from the cover of Entertainment Weekly.  Perhaps you are like me and immediately had to devour the entire magazine for any morsel of Watchmen information to be found.  In the process of said devouring of said magazine, you may have run into a little blurb about a little movie called I Love You, Beth Cooper.  

Not too long ago, when the book first came out, Larry Doyle, came to Book Soup.  As a former writer for The Simpsons, it's no surprise that Larry had us all in stitches throughout the course of the evening.  However, when I went home and read the book, I was surprised to find that I kind of loved it.  It perfectly captures the one crazy night as a teenager magic with the most realistic portrayal of true nerddom I've ever read.  

It's a little like Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist for geeks.  But whatever it is, whatever it's like, it is fabulous.

Happy Reading,

Julia

Hardest Working Man

It would be easy to write off Ron Jeremy as just an older pornstar.  It would be easy to mock his book, his memoir of his times as a pornstar in the golden age of porn (a.k.a. the seventies).  As much as I wanted to laugh of Ron Jeremy's book, The Hardest Working Man in Showbiz, I just couldn't.  It's a charming, witty book.  Sure it's got the stuff we all want, the stories of porn shoots being busted by cops and boat scenes gone bad, but what lies underneath is a tender beating heart.  Sure, he's a pornstar...THE pornstar, but he's also a man with big dreams.  Dreams that continue to drive him even now.  

Happy Reading,

Julia

Dunce Century

So there are those books that we all know the title of, all know that we should read at some point if for no other reason than to have the ability to discuss the book when it comes up in casual conversation, and somehow it always comes up in casual conversation.  Some of these books aren't worth reading, some are.  Oh, but how to know which is which?

Let's start with just one.  Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole is definitely one of those books that comes up in conversation and should be read, poured over, and cherished.  The protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly is (I'm going to say it) the BEST character in fiction.  Yeah, I did it...THE BEST CHARACTER IN FICTION.  He's disgusting and slovenly, he's a complete asshole, and yet somehow, you still end up loving him.  

How can you say no?

Happy Reading,

Julia

Smart, Funny and Drunk

A few of my favorite things: people who are smart, funny and drunk.  There's just something about a person who can keep up with quick witticisms and dish them out.  It's why I wrote of my love of Chelsea Handler a few posts ago, why I love Tina Fey, and probably the reason I'm still single.  No offense to Tina and Chelsea, because I love them, but there was a lady not too long ago who takes the caustic wit to a level that is yet to be seen before or since.  Yes, the Lady of the Algonquin Round Table herself, Ms. Dorothy Parker.  

Besides being one of the three books of the Portable series to be constantly in print (the other two are Portable Shakespeare and Portable Bible), she's by far one of the most underrated and profoundly moving writers ever.  Like May West, she was famous for the quick, zippy one-liners often heard in the Oak or Rose Room of the Algonquin Hotel in New York City, but her short poems, as well as her prose are not to be overlooked.  

Though famous for her wit, Parker was obsessed with the idea of suicide, and even attempted it a few times.  This darkness in her often comes out in her poems, perfectly rhyming poems that make you want to cheer until you figure out what they're about...and by that time Ms. Parker has usually moved on to the next poem.  

Penguin Classics recently released a beautiful new paperback version of The Portable Dorothy Parker that contains new poetry and prose that Ms. Parker, ever the self-critic, wouldn't allow in the first few editions. 

If you're looking for a great book to sit next to your bed and keep you company before you go to sleep at night, Dorothy Parker would be more than happy to sleep with you...she told me so herself.

Happy Reading,

Julia