Books
6 Actually Good Books by Hollywood A-Listers
Movie stars and moguls alike are not famous for their modesty and, so as not to deprive the world of their many, rare talents, several have dabbled in other industries. Just our luck! Some have even tried their hand at penning the latest literary masterpiece. Few have succeeded. Yet, once in a while, there crops up amidst the Tinstletown royalty, a star whose talents extend beyond the film set and onto the page. Here are some of the best books by Hollywood A-listers.
Movie stars and moguls alike are not famous for their modesty and, so as not to deprive the world of their many, rare talents, several have dabbled in other industries. Just our luck! Some have even tried their hand at penning the latest literary masterpiece. Few have succeeded. Yet, once in a while, there crops up amidst the Tinstletown royalty, a star whose talents extend beyond the film set and onto the page. Here are some of the best books by Hollywood A-listers.
'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories' by Tim Burton
As the title suggests, this collection of short stories doesn’t deviate from Burton’s typically macabre sensibilities, as demonstrated in his whimsical but often terrifying films. Part Roald Dahl, part Quentin Blake, he delivers here a collection of misfit anti-heroes, all seemingly disfigured and fantastical variations on his famous lost soul, Edward Scissorhands. Parents, be warned. This is not pre-bedtime reading.
'An Object of Beauty' by Steve Martin
Saturday Night Live superstar and prolific actor Steve Martin has been gracing our screens for nearly half a century. One of the more multi-faceted performers out there, he has branched out of mere comedic roles and stand-up, and has written and produced several plays, is an accomplished banjo and bluegrass musician. His novella Shopgirl was converted to film and received with acclaim at the Toronto Film Festival in 2005. In An Object of Beauty, the story of Lacey Yeager, a young up and comer on the NYC art scene, is deployed with with a wit and style that only a comedian of Martin's calibre could deliver.
'Heartburn' by Nora Ephron
With her 1982 novel, Heartburn, based loosely on her own experiences with marital betrayal, the late and great Nora Ephron arguably changed the way in which we view divorce. Her iconic films, plays and collections of essays are the unofficial guides through life, love, and big city madness for women of all ages. Her honest style and effortless humor have set the tone for female wit lit, inspiring some of our generations greatest female writers and comediennes, from Tina Fey to Lena Dunham.
'Palo Alto' by James Franco
America was admittedly a little Franco'd out by the end of 2011, as his prolific presence in almost every artistic medium (not to mention academic institution) went from impressive to ridiculous. That said, his foray into fiction, though not Pulitzer-worthy, showed promise, tracking the trials of teenagers as they navigate post-adolescence.
'The Liar' by Stephen Fry
Fry has long set the standard for high-class humour, both in front of and behind the camera. In his best-selling, debut, The Liar, we follow Adrian Healey, a mischievous and sharp-tongued school boy, no doubt inspired by the actor’s younger self. Fry’s particular brand of British humo(u)r serves as the perfect vehicle to transport us to the awkward experience of teenage boydom.
'Bossypants' by Tina Fey
Fey’s hilarious stints on Saturday Night Live had us choking on our popcorn long before Liz Lemon became our favourite fumbling feminist. More than a mere memoir, Bossypants recounts her personal and professional journey, from her Chicago upbringing to her New York City awakening. Each page delivers more side-splitting moments than the one prior, with her inimitable comedic timing, reinforcing her as the comedic genius of our generation.
