Book Clubs are Cozy: Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir

by Leslie Patson | 28th March 2010

Well, the bad boys and girls book club was true to form the other night when although most people did show up, only half had read the book! What the what????

We convened at Miriam’s beautiful new house on Laurel Canyon to discuss the novel Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir by Lauren Slater. This was Brandy’s choice and since Brandy is now a reality TV star (The Amazing Race) she was unable to attend but everyone else was there: Elizabeth, Craig, Meredith, Sara, myself and of course, hostess Miriam.

And kudos to the group for actually having an interesting discussion on a book most had not read! The topic was the disease Epilepsy and the biographical story or a woman growing up with this disease. The novel is complex, dark, disturbing and bitter sweet. Also interesting and educational. Brandy if you are reading, please comment below as to what made you choose this particular book?

Comforting certainly does not describe the book but did describe the delicious short ribs and mashed potatoes with celery root that Miriam served. The food was perfect and everyone had seconds but did manage to just save room, as we always seem to do, for the lemon cake!

Of course anyone who follows our book club knows that lots of wine is consumed during these meetings and perhaps that is why our “casting” of the book we have read gets so darned creative.
Here it is, the casting of Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir

Lauren: Winona Ryder/stand-in Ally Sheedy
Mother: Anne Heche
Dad: Michael Stuhlbarg (from A Serious Man)
Piano Player: Michael Cera (our mascot)
Dr. Neu – Ho Chi Ming Ling Cohen
Her lover: Jeff Bridges
The Alcoholics:
Courtney Love
Brittney Spears
Lindsay Lohen
Brittney Murphy
Cory Haims
Both Belushi Brothers
Ben Affleck
Michael Vartan (we just want him in our movie)
Jeff Conoway
Matthew Perry
Steve Jones (from the Sex Pistols)
Keith Richards
Tommy Lee
Danny Bonoducci
The Racoon that ate Sara’s seafood delivery (not sure why, but who cares????)
The Writers Clinic:
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Keanu Reeves
Matt Damon
Diablo Cody
Jessica Simpson
Joyce Carol Oates
Jackie Collins
Ethan Hawke

Not sure how we’re going to afford our fabulous cast but that is the producer’s problem! And we never worry about that part anyhow, we have already moved to thinking and hopefully READING our next novel which is:

Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones. Hopefully, Leslie might have to wrestle Craig to host this one as she is long overdue. The date is May 13th (uh-oh, Marc’s birthday) so we’ll see you around then!

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5 Responses to “Book Clubs are Cozy: Lying: A Metaphorical Memoir”

  1. mimi

    Mar 28th, 2010 :

    wow did you notice the shadow of the (spooky adams family) chandelier? great photo!!

  2. Leslie Patson

    Mar 28th, 2010 :

    yes, how appropo right????

  3. brandy

    Mar 29th, 2010 :

    I am so bummed to have missed this book club too… the date crept up on me far too quickly and as usual my timing is off by about a week… while I was out of town last week on work, I will be in town this week… and why the book?? Well, I loved the idea, after the James Frey/Oprah debacle, I loved the idea that she could start a memoir, which is expected to be as true as possible, with the line, “I exaggerate.” With those 2 simple words, she took all bets off the table and led me into a twisty turning maze, anchored only by the poetry of her words. I think Lauren Slater is a gorgeous writer. The pages of my book are dog eared, sentences underlined so that I can go back and marvel over them again… I liked the science woven throughout the narrative, and I found her journey compelling… is what she writes true? did that all really happen to her, or is that her impression, does she just think/believe it happened to her, and in doing so does that make it any more or less real??? I love the conundrum of it all!! Thanks to the bad girls, and boy, for even considering and discussing this book… I really wish I could have been there!!

  4. Sara

    Mar 29th, 2010 :

    I expect 1/2 credit for reading 1/2 of it. Super fun night. Can’t wait for the next. If that is Marc’s birthday, we can switch to another night, right?

  5. Leslie Patson

    Mar 30th, 2010 :

    Brandy, what a beautiful comment and I agree, the book was really really well written. And will we ever know if it did happen to her and if not, who would ever create such a life? wow….. Mr. Pip is next and as always we will hope you are around. Our new member Craig will then know you truly do exist and are not just some glamorous figment of our already over-active imagination!
    Hope to talk soon!

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