Arts & Entertainment On The Bookshelf
15% OFF
TOTAL BILL
with coupon.
Expires 8/18/02
Laura Zigman's "Her" is a comic journey
into the heart of jealousy.
en
151t iQ Th at Restaurant tha
atmospheric elegance with cu in
The Ex-Files
the other woman was dressed up.
When
she later repeated her "I looked
Special to the Jewish News
ridiculous and she looked amazing"
story to friends, she realized how reso-
he author of Animal
nant the experience was.
Husbandry (the basis for
In talking about the autobiographical
the film Someone Like You)
strands
in her new novel, Zigman says
and Dating Big Bird, Laura
she
cringes
when she recalls things she
Zigman is a smart writer, part
did in her 20s and early 30s.
Dorothy Parker, part Gilda Radner.
"Almost every woman has done
Her comic timing is what makes her
something like this," she says, describ-
latest novel, Her (Knopf; $22), work
ing "chicken calling"
so well
—
dialing someone's
Elise, the narrator of
number
and hanging
Her, is a New Yorker
up,
easier
in the days
who moves to
before
caller
ID — and
Washington to escape
driving by someone's
her stressful publishing
home to check whether
job and lifestyle. She's
the lights are on. Many
appealingly neurotic,
of the snooping adven-
sometimes managing to
tures in the book are
avoid the cynicism,
based on friends' real
doubt, pessimism and
experiences.
negativity referred to as
Zigman has perfect
her "quartet of Jewish
pitch in relating the
gloom and doom."
L a u - a Zi 0 . in a n comic details of urban
On a shuttle flight to
women's lives and rela-
Washington, she meets
tionships, the emotion-
Donald, who soon
Film rights to "Her" have
al
mix of exuberance
becomes her fiance. But been sold to Julia Roberts'
and
loneliness, self-
their happiness is
production company, and
doubt
and self-confi-
threatened by "Her" —
Wendy Wasserstein is already
dence, dreaming
Adrienne, her fiance's
writing the screenplay.
dreams and not giving
ex-fiancee.
up on them.
Adrienne — "the
mother of all exes, my worst nightmare
incarnate" — enters the picture as Elise
and Donald are in the midst of planning Learning To Laugh
Humor often comes from pain,
their wedding.
Zigman says.
She's French, a Yale graduate, a
Asa child, her family life was
mountain climber, wealthy, willowy
defined by the death of one of her two
and gorgeous. She's also about to
sisters at 7 years of age. Sadness sur-
move to Washington.
rounded them, she says, and even with
Elise comes undone, jealousy fueling
her father's sense of humor and her
her descent into obsession as she
mother's wit, they were not a happy,
engages in the kind of information-
gathering worthy of a private detective. boisterous family.
When Zigman was in seventh grade,
Film rights to Her have been sold to
she met a friend who was really funny
Julia Roberts' production company,
and had a family that was really funny.
and Wendy Wasserstein is already
"They thought I was really funny, too.
writing the screenplay.
That
was where I was able to be more
Zigman worked in the New York pub-
myself."
lishing world for 10 years before moving
From then on, in school and else-
to Washington. Like her heroine, she
where, she was known as someone
met a ply in Washington. They now
who made people laugh.
have a son and make their home in a
Comedy, Zigman says, also comes
suburb of Boston.
from
being an outsider or being lone-
The seed of this book was meeting .
ly.
"Very
few comics on the stage are
her fiance's ex-wife on a visit to Denver;
the
ones
who
were cheerleaders in
the author was wearing a big parka and
SAN D EE BRAWARS KY
afe
Featuring the
30923 Woodward Ave. • Royal Oak, MI +8073
(248) 288-0002
Open: Mon — Thur. 1 lam 10pm • Fri. 1 1 am 1 1 pm
Sat1 2prn- i 1 pm • 5un. 12-10pm
Lunch served l 3pm Mon-fri
-
-
13 mile & Woodward in The Northwood ,511opping Center
NOVI
43224 W. 11 Mile
In the Novi Town Center
Next to the Movie Theatre
248-347-7444
OAK PARK
25282 Greenfield
SE corner of Greenfield & 696
248-968-2225
T
Her
3 1101,1
BIRMINGHAM
239 N. Old Woodward
Across from the Palladium
248-645-6999
0000622140
,44
PEA FODY5 wa
A Birmingham Tradition For 25 Years
Two Hours Free Parking
In The Structure
Directly Behind Peabody's
Entertainment Friday &
Saturday Nights
0 0/
One Lunch Or
One Dinner Entry ei
°
OFF
When You Buy A Lunch Or Dinner Of Equal Or Greater Value
Valid Mon.-Thurs. • With Coupon • Expires July 31, 2002
1
I
I
248.644.5222
34965 Woodward ♦ Just South Of Maple
Reservations taken for 8 or more
631600
PRIVATE BANQUET FACILITIES FOR ALL OCCASIONS
r
'2 OFF PM
SPECIALLY-TRIMMED RIBS
r
BBP CHICKEN
$2 Orr
1- FOR
WITH OR WITHOUT SKIN
I ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE
ALL DINNERS INCLUDE: SALAD OR COLE
I SLAW, POTATOES AND GARLIC BREAD
SLAW POTATOES AND GARLIC BREAD
p?
7
" T
- d e 200D 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 7/31/2002 M j :GOOD 7 DAYS! ■ Exp. 7/31/2002 ,TN J
*TN
7/19
2002
84
•
Brass PointecY/0-00(,&-:----c9/9 1;n4-$
24234 Orchard Lake Rd., N.E. corner of 10 Mile • 476-1377