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Books to Look Out For

Keep an eye out for....

*"Too Much Is Not Enough" ...This is Andrew Rannells's (perfectly-entitled) memoir about moving to New York and making it on Broadway. It's evident from excerpts that Rannells has learned from Lena Dunham's brutally candid and cringe-inducing style. Rannells's televised cabaret, from Jazz at Lincoln Center, is among the greatest theatrical works of all time (if you ask me). I especially loved the revelation that Rannells--unaware of other protocol--simply showed up for auditions and performed Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run," over and over, regardless of questions about "appropriateness." I'm so excited about this memoir.

*"Never Tell," by Lisa Gardner ...This is a lurid NYTimes bestseller, apparently based on a real case, in which a pregnant woman (in Alabama? or somewhere around there?) may or may not have slaughtered her husband. Say no more!

*"Fay Wray and Robert Riskin: A Hollywood Memoir" ....She was the woman famously assailed by King Kong. He was the man responsible for "It Happened One Night" and "You Can't Take It with You." They stayed married for over ten years, which is exceptional for a Hollywood power couple. Now their daughter, Victoria, has written their (true) story. Who could resist this--and who could resist the affiliated retrospective series that will be happening at Film Forum?

*Whatever Laura Lippman is working on. Lippman tends to produce a book a year, and it's that time of year again....I don't know what the new book will be, but note this recent Tweet: "When you're a writer and the seasons show subtle signs of changing -- the extra daylight today, which also comes with a hint of balmier temps -- well, a true writer can't help thinking: I am so fucking behind on my book." The Tweet alone makes me miss Lippman's "tangy," no-nonsense voice. As a storyteller, she is dependable and smart.

*Jeffrey Toobin on Trump. "This is the book Toobin was born to write." The subject is alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials to skew 2016 election results. But, actually, Toobin could choose to write a book about sidewalk weeds, and I would still take out my credit card. Having tackled OJ, Patty Hearst, Bush v. Gore, Monica Lewinsky, and Obama's relationship with the Supreme Court, Toobin has established himself as a superstar. It's unclear how long we'll need to wait for this new book.

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