Ask the Author: B.J. Novak
Answered Questions (12)
B.J. Novak
I'm just starting David Denby's book about the future of film and I love that so far. In fiction, I just read Lorrie Moore's debut stories, "Self Help," and liked it a lot although it's hard to beat her "Birds of America." Simon Rich wrote a cool comedic novella on The New Yorker's site a few months back that I really liked a lot too.
B.J. Novak
Wow! First, I hope everything's okay with you, Syamim.
If the person is asking me this question, I would assume that we share a lot of taste. So rather than recommend a general book for everyone - and there are plenty of great nominees for the book most likely to move and inspire a human being, and I would be interested in reading an article by someone considering that question- I will recommend a book for the type of person who might ask me.
I would recommend Lolita, a book which baffles me with its beauty, pain, humor, grandness, minutiae, poetry, simplicity, audacity, style, and emotion. It is the best book I have ever read.
If the person is asking me this question, I would assume that we share a lot of taste. So rather than recommend a general book for everyone - and there are plenty of great nominees for the book most likely to move and inspire a human being, and I would be interested in reading an article by someone considering that question- I will recommend a book for the type of person who might ask me.
I would recommend Lolita, a book which baffles me with its beauty, pain, humor, grandness, minutiae, poetry, simplicity, audacity, style, and emotion. It is the best book I have ever read.
B.J. Novak
Yes. I am constantly making myself laugh. I wish I was kidding. Anyone who has been in the same room with me while I'm writing can attest to how often I am laughing without even realizing it. It's embarrassing, but you know, if you're not writing for yourself, who are you writing for?
B.J. Novak
Then do something easier! People have enough to read.
B.J. Novak
I wrote the book, on one level, as something that I wanted to be fun to read aloud, so I put a lot of energy into producing the audiobook. I definitely knew it would be fun to put some recognizable actors on the audiobook, but I wanted to make sure it was never what is called "stunt casting" -- that is, casting just for the stunt of it. So I thought a lot about what qualities I was looking for in which characters, and who would best be able to embody that while still adding their own style.
B.J. Novak
No one calls "Beeg." Some call me "Beej," but you can be the first and only person to call me "Beeg."
B.J. Novak
I write something else that seems like pure fun. Then when I get stuck on that, the first thing I was working on seems magically more appealing...
B.J. Novak
WHOA WHOA WHOA - your choice of tense alarms me. "You've had" -- is it over? Do you know something I don't? I have to make some calls. I will be right back.
B.J. Novak
I love both. But I prefer answering questions about what I've already done to new writing or acting. Answering questions, you feel so accomplished and wise and content you can even start to feel guilty. Then when the questions are over, you realize... I have a blank piece of paper in front of me and no idea what to do with it. Please keep asking me questions and keep the existential dread at bay.
B.J. Novak
Hi! I am finalizing a funny book for very young kids. It is called "The Book With No Pictures." It comes out September 30th.
B.J. Novak
Yes. I think literary glamour is the best type of glamour, and there is nothing more glamorous in the literary world than being published in The New Yorker. Well, maybe winning the PEN/Faulkner Prize. Or egging Oprah's house with Jonathan Franzen. I suppose there are plenty of milestones still ahead of me on this path. But yes, being published in The New Yorker was pretty exciting.
B.J. Novak
If it's an elaborate act, I'm even more impressed.
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