Synopses & Reviews
For more than twenty years, Paul Rudnick has been one of America′s most prominent and beloved humorists. From his acclaimed, much performed plays to his screenplays of wildly popular films to his regular contributions to Premiere magazine and The New Yorker, he has established himself as a comic genius whose talents transcend any one genre. Now, in this much overdue essay collection, he trains his wickedly perceptive eye on all manner of side-splitting subjects, from living in a series of increasingly bizarre, altogether fabulous apartments in New York City; to cavorting with a cast of colorful artists who have to be read to be believed; to dealing with some of the most perplexing yet endearing personalities in show business; to handling the finer points of putting up with, and loving, one′s family, however out of their gourds they may be; and, above all, to keeping one′s tongue sharp in the midst of life′s many obstacles and hilarities.
In this collection, Paul Rudnick takes his place firmly beside today′s most adored humor writers, from David Sedaris to Augusten Burroughs and onwards. Raucous, laugh-out-loud funny, and rendered in Rudnick′s gorgeous, always zinger-laden prose, I SHUDDER is one of the most accomplished essay collections in years, from one of America′s true comedic treasures.
Review
“[A] lovable and astute collection of humor pieces...breezy and giddy with zingers, all handcrafted to make their good-natured defiance seem easy...[a] deceptively sweet and droll collection.” Newsday
Review
“[A] smart, dishy and very funny essay collection.” Daily News
Review
“A hilarious, often touching hodgepodge. . . . Its the literary equivalent of the tchotchke, at least as [Paul Rudnick] defines it: ‘Something peculiar which you dont need, and which has no discernible purpose or value, but which you cant live without.” (Four out of four stars) People
Review
“I Shudder is filled with deeply funny musings and adventures that elevate Paul Rudnick to the highest level of American comedy writing.
Review
“Paul Rudnick is a champion of truth (and love and great wicked humor) whom we ignore at our peril. Theres no book wiser or half as funny as I Shudder.” David Sedaris
Review
“Uproariously self-deprecating essays about being gay and Jewish in suburban New Jersey and downtown Manhattan...The vignettes that give the book its title offer...irresistible screeds against the indignities of modern urban life.” New York Times Book Review
Review
“Piscataway, N.J. and Hollywood dont usually have much in common, but writer Paul Rudnick finds absurdity in both.” Modern Tonic
Review
“Uproariously self-deprecating essays of a gay, Jewish life in Manhattan, Hollywood and suburbia.” (Editors Choice) New York Times
Review
“The witty, sardonic playwright (Jeffrey) and screenwriter (In and Out, Addams Family Values) delivers an acerbic and entertaining memoir about his experiences as a child in New Jersey and an adult in showbiz.” Entertainment Weekly
Review
“A laugh-out-loud pleasure to read...[Rudnick] writes with glee and unjudgmental warmth about the bohemian people and places of late 1970s and ‘80s.” Asbury Park Press
Synopsis
I Shudder is a side-splittingly funny collection of essays from Paul Rudnick, one of America's preeminent humorists. Rudnick, who writes for
The New Yorker and has written the screenplays for the films
In and Out, Sister Act, and
Addams Family Values, shares his hilarious observations on life in New York City and New Jersey, the perils of show business, and dealing with one's family, however crazy they may be. As David Sedaris says, "There's no book wiser or half as funny as
I Shudder."
Synopsis
From his classic plays and screenplays to his sidesplitting pieces for
The New Yorker and
Premiere, Paul Rudnick is one of our most adored humor writers. Now, in this long overdue collection, he casts his gleefully wicked eye on the world as he sees it: a landscape of stylish dowagers, irascible producers, and full-tilt eccentrics.
From living in a series of increasingly bizarre, altogether fabulous New York City apartments to cavorting with a cast of colorful artists and endearingly perplexing show business personalities who have to be read to be believed, to handling the finer points of putting up with his wonderfully outlandish but lovable family, Rudnick triumphs with I Shudder—a raucously funny collection from one of America's true comedic treasures.
Synopsis
I Shudder is a side-splittingly funny collection of essays from Paul Rudnick, one of Americas preeminent humorists. Rudnick, who writes for The New Yorker and has written the screenplays for the films In and Out, Sister Act, and Addams Family Values, shares his hilarious observations on life in New York City and New Jersey, the perils of show business, and dealing with ones family, however crazy they may be. As David Sedaris says, “Theres no book wiser or half as funny as I Shudder.”
About the Author
Playwright, screenwriter, and novelist Paul Rudnick's celebrated works include the plays I Hate Hamlet and Jeffrey, and the screenplays In & Out and Addams Family Values. He also writes regularly for The New Yorker. Born in Piscataway, New Jersey, he now lives in New York City.