Synopses & Reviews
Now a “provocative” and “impressive” (
Variety) film from director Gia Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola’s granddaughter) — starring Emma Roberts, James Franco, Nat Wolff, and Val Kilmer — the fiction debut from James Franco that
Vogue called “compelling and gutsy.
James Franco’s story collection traces the lives of a group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds, struggle with their families and one another, and succumb to self-destructive, often heartless nihilism. In “Lockheed” a young woman’s summer — spent working a dull internship — is suddenly upended by a spectacular incident of violence at a house party. In “American History” a high school freshman attempts to impress a girl with a realistic portrayal of a slave owner during a classroom skit — only to have his feigned bigotry avenged. In “I Could Kill Someone,” a lonely teenager buys a gun with the aim of killing his high school tormentor, but begins to wonder about his bully’s own inner life.
These “spare and riveting” (The Oprah Magazine) stories are a compelling portrait of lives on the rough fringes of youth. Palo Alto is, “a collection of beautifully written stories” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that “capture with perfect pitch the impossible exhilaration, the inevitable downbeatness, and the pure confusion of being an adolescent” (Elle).
Features a bonus essay by James Franco on Gia Coppola's film adaptation.
Review
“Spare and riveting… Franco’s ear for juvenile vernacular is like an Ouija board summoning the lost voices of Generation Z.” O, the Oprah Magazine
Review
"Compelling and gutsy." Meghan O'Grady, Vogue
Review
“Startling and original.” The Economist
Review
"[Franco] ends up perfectly mirroring the undulations of a teenage mind." The New York Times Book Review
Synopsis
Now a provocative and impressive (Variety) film from director Gia Coppola (Francis Ford Coppola s granddaughter) starring Emma Roberts, James Franco, Nat Wolff, and Val Kilmer the fiction debut from James Franco that Vogue called compelling and gutsy.
James Franco s story collection traces the lives of a group of teenagers as they experiment with vices of all kinds, struggle with their families and one another, and succumb to self-destructive, often heartless nihilism. In Lockheed a young woman s summer spent working a dull internship is suddenly upended by a spectacular incident of violence at a house party. In American History a high school freshman attempts to impress a girl with a realistic portrayal of a slave owner during a classroom skit only to have his feigned bigotry avenged. In I Could Kill Someone, a lonely teenager buys a gun with the aim of killing his high school tormentor, but begins to wonder about his bully s own inner life.
These spare and riveting (O, The Oprah Magazine) stories are a compelling portrait of lives on the rough fringes of youth. Palo Alto is, a collection of beautifully written stories (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) that capture with perfect pitch the impossible exhilaration, the inevitable downbeatness, and the pure confusion of being an adolescent (Elle).
Features a bonus essay by James Franco on Gia Coppola's film adaptation."
About the Author
James Franco is an acclaimedandnbsp;actor, director,andnbsp;artist, and writer. His film appearances include andlt;i andgt;127 Hoursandlt;/iandgt;,andnbsp;andlt;i andgt;Milkandlt;/iandgt;,andnbsp;andlt;i andgt;Pineapple Expressandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;i andgt;Oz the Great and Powerfulandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;i andgt;Spring Breakersandlt;/iandgt;,andnbsp;and the Spider-Man trilogy.andnbsp; Franco has written andandnbsp;directed several films, and his visual art has been featured in solo shows in Los Angeles and New York.andnbsp;His writing has appeared in andlt;iandgt;Esquireandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;i andgt;Theandlt;/iandgt;andnbsp;andlt;iandgt;Wall Street Journalandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;McSweeneyand#8217;sandlt;/iandgt;, and other publications. Franco has an MFA in creative writing from Brooklyn College.