The novel concerns assimilation, the place of the jew within the expanding universe, the relationships between jews and africanamericans, and those among conservative, orthodox, reconstructionist, and nonpracticing jews. Adam langer has written a family mystery story that takes the reader back to a complex past, created from other peoples recollections and adams own pilgrimage to an event hardly touched by american memory. His books include the novels crossing california, the washington story, ellington boulevard and the thieves of manhattan, as well as the memoir my fathers bonus march. A novel of literary crimes and misdemeanors, the salinger contract will delight anyone who loves a fastpaced story told with humor, wit, and intrigue. Adam langer is a journalist, author, playwright and filmmaker. Publisher riverheadputnam, august 2005 but muley was walking fast now on the slippery sidewalk and jill would have to cross california quickly if she wanted to catch him from crossing california, january 20, 1981 more than a year and a half has passed since jill wasserstrom tried to catch up to muley wills in west. Happily, adam langers the washington story avoids these pitfalls and emerges as a thoroughly enjoyable continuation of crossing california.
The washington story by adam langer, paperback barnes. There are two macrostoriesthe courtship of charlie wasserstrom and gail. Adam langer more than a year and a half has passed since jill wasserstrom tried to catch up to muley wills in west rogers park. The characters have matured alas, the humor has evolved from prepubescent to collegiate. Langers brilliant debut uses that divide as a metaphor for. Adam langer, author, crossing california and the washington story. Adam langer, author, crossing california and the washington story fascinatingly disturbing, this memoir chronicles seven years in the life of a distinctly unordinary american family.
View adam langers profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. In his wonderfully mischievous new novel, the thieves of manhattan, adam langer tells the story of an. The truth behind death at columbine by rob merritt. Adam langer culture and magazine editor forward magazine. The salinger contract adam langer 9781453297902 netgalley.
For filmmakers, film buffs, and industry professionals. Nov 06, 2017 when i read the genesis story as a kid, i regarded it as a warning never to disobey god lest i, too, be punished. In the washington story, adam langer revisits his extraordinary cast of characters from crossing california, each inextricably linked by love, betrayal, reunions, sex, death, and rebirthand all holding out hope that their dreams are worth pursuing, as they come of age in a. These immersive, funny novels follow three jewish families in west rogers park from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. The screenplay concerns a reporter in search of government corruption who falls for a congressman. Nov 04, 2009 adam langer is a novelist and the author of a memoir, my fathers bonus march.
His work has been featured most recently on nprs selected shorts, in the best mens stage monologues 2000, and the best womens stage monologues 2000, as well as in the chicago readers fiction issue, and in the literary magazine salt hill. Author adam langers complete list of books and series in order, with the latest releases, covers, descriptions and availability. That dirk jamison managed to survive the events he describes in his memoir is an impressive feat. Together, they cover around a decade in the lives of a bunch of jewish. He has written plays, films, criticism and a memoir, but most of the time, he writes novels. The washington story crossing california, book 2 by adam. Returning to chicago, he worked for a little over a decade as an editor, nonfiction author, playwright, theater director, and film producer. The washington story is set over a fiveyear period and the structure of the novel is inspired by the five books of moses, which are also, in part, a story of. What nikkis going to read once nikki is done with her book challenges. For those of us who woefully turned the last page of crossing california, adam langers masterful debut, the washington story offers a gratifying, if not lengthy, reunion with the people and places whose stories so engaged readers the first time around.
In 1979, california avenue, in chicagos west rogers park neighborhood, separates the upper middleclass jewish families from the mostly middleclass jewish residents on the east of the. Adam langer is a novelist, journalist and playwright. Each chapter of langers latest the washington story, 2005. Here is a list of the washington posts best books of the year 2010. Robert deniro wore al capones underwear to get into his role in the untouchables.
The washington story is set over a fiveyear period and the structure of the novel is inspired by the five books of moses, which are also, in part, a story of diaspora. The novel concerns assimilation, the place of the jew within the expanding universe, the relationships between jews and africanamericans, and those among conservative, orthodox. Windy city offers a window into the heart of america the. My first novel, crossing california, was published by riverhead books in 2004, the washington story in august, 2005. We personally assess every book s quality and offer rare, outofprint. Adam langer talked about his book my fathers bonus march. Adam langer would be embarrassed if critics were to read too much into his novel, yet the washington story compels readers to ponder.
Each chapter of langers latest the washington story, 2005, etc. In the washington story, adam langer revisits his extraordinary cast of characters from crossing california, each inextricably linked by love, betrayal, reunions, sex, death, and rebirthand all holding out hope that their dreams are worth pursuing, as they come of age in a very particular time in american history. Throughout the pages of this novel, langers love not only for his characters. Born and raised in chicago, he now lives in new york. Its time to rethink how you read the story of adam and. Robert deniro wore al capones underwear to get into his role in. As far as im concerned, this book and its sequel, the washington story, are mustreads.
Occupation, novelist, short story writer, playwright, journalist. The washington story continues the inclusion of yiddish in our national letters, and the authors introduction of kenny melnick provides langer a chance to delight his audience with a new yorkers vernacular. In the book he recounts the bonus march of 1932, when 20,000 world war i veterans marched on washington for two months in the hopes of. Adam langer is a novelist and the author of a memoir, my fathers bonus march. Adam langer author born and raised in chicago, adam langer is the author of the novels ellington boulevard, crossing california,and the washington story. Publisher riverheadputnam, june 2004 hilarious and poignant, ambitious and tremendously fun, crossing california is a novel about two generations of family and friendship in chicago in the 1970s. That he has managed to write about them with such frankness and good humor is astounding. In the washington story, adam langer has given us a world full of characters to cheer for. Ive got a few other books in the works right now, but until theyre published. Born and raised in chicago, adam langer is the author of the novels crossing california, the washington story, ellington boulevard, and the thieves of manhattan, and the memoir my fathers. The washington story takes his time in developing the characters and the. Adam langer read at the west side ymca writers voice along with the actress anne jackson on september 8, 2005. Adam langer author of crossing california goodreads.
About the author born and raised in chicago, adam langer is the author of the novels crossing california, the washington story, ellington boulevard, and the thieves of manhattan, and the memoir. The thieves of manhattan by adam langer overdrive rakuten. Literature archival collections chicago public library. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover adams.
Sep 17, 20 a novel of literary crimes and misdemeanors, the salinger contract will delight anyone who loves a fastpaced story told with humor, wit, and intrigue. You may need to be a religious reader of galleycat to get all the jokes in. Adam langer books list of books by author adam langer. When i read the genesis story as a kid, i regarded it as a warning never to disobey god lest i, too, be punished. An enthralling literary mystery that connects some of the worlds most famous authorsfrom norman mailer and truman capote to b. Spinning a complex story around the mundane yet emotionally charged event of purchasing an apartment, ellington boulevard is a very different sort of book from langers earlier. Langers most recent novel is the thieves of manhattan. Cheer for them to attain their desires and dreams, and to avoid pain and sorrow. New books by adam langer, ann weisgarber and others the. Once may have been an honest mistake, but twice, it must be a trend. Book recommendations for people who like no easy answers. Dec 20, 2017 the washington story 2005, adam langer these immersive, funny novels follow three jewish families in west rogers park from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.
My fathers bonus march by adam langer overdrive rakuten. Four teenagers larry, michelle, myra, and gareth need a place to hang out, ponder the universe, and get drunk. See all books authored by adam langer, including crossing california, and the salinger contract, and more on. In this tightly packed sequel, langer revisits the same west rogers park neighborhood in chicago where we first met a fascinating cast of. Now, they are high school students in love, but will their relationship survive as. Arts journalism program and remained in new york as a senior editor of book magazine until it. He attended evanston township high school from 19801984 and graduated from vassar college in 1988.
Now, as an adult, it seems to me that adam and eve were punished not for. Crossing california 2004, adam langer the washington story 2005, adam langer. Washington story is a 1952 american drama film directed by robert pirosh and starring van johnson and patricia neal. Joe gresham is a hardworking but reticent congressman from massachusetts. Adam langer born 1967 is an american author best known for his novel crossing california. Adam langer would be embarrassed if critics were to read too much into his novel, yet the washington story compels readers to ponder several serious themes.
They target no comment joe gresham, and she begins. Langer grew up in the west rogers park neighborhood of chicago, where he attended daniel boone elementary school. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. Reporter alice kingsley arrives in washington, dc hired by gilbert nunnally, a tabloid columnist and cynic who wants alice to uncover a ripe political scandal. Chicago public library, harold washington library center, special collections, chicago authors and publishing collection. Its time to rethink how you read the story of adam and eve. The collection contains drafts of langers published books, showing the evolution of his work on the novels crossing california, the washington story. Adam langer author born and raised in chicago, adam langer is the author of the novels ellington boulevard, crossing california, and the washington story. The education of a teacher and his students teaching for social justice series gregory michie.
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