Bruce Wagner staat bekend om zijn scherpe kijk op het moderne leven en de complexiteit ervan. Zijn werken duiken vaak in thema's als identiteit, relaties en de zoektocht naar betekenis in een turbulente wereld. Wagner's stijl wordt gekenmerkt door zijn literaire vakmanschap en zijn vermogen om de emotionele diepte van zijn personages te vangen. Zijn schrijven resoneert bij lezers die introspectieve en stilistisch verfijnde verhalen waarderen.
Set against the backdrop of the pandemic and social upheaval, the narrative weaves together the lives of diverse characters, including an orphaned billionairess, a wrongfully convicted black man, a schizophrenic child fixated on Wolverine, a canceled TV star, and Elon Musk's love child. Their interconnected stories explore themes of identity, justice, and the impact of societal change, creating a reality that transcends typical Hollywood storytelling.
Exploring the intersection of the ordinary and the unfathomable, this book offers a genre-defying narrative that challenges perceptions of reality. It delves into the lives of children affected by tragedy, weaving together elements of mystery and psychological depth. The story pushes boundaries, inviting readers to confront the complexities of grief and the impact of violence in a thought-provoking manner.
Exploring the themes of desperation and depravity, this book offers a sharp critique of Hollywood's obsessions through interconnected tales. Bruce Wagner's narrative is both uproarious and insightful, capturing the darker side of modern life in the entertainment industry.
If there's an even darker side to Hollywood than the one America is familiar with, Bruce Wagner has found it. A twenty-first-century Nathanael West, he has been hailed for his powerful prose, his Swiftian satire, and the scalpel-sharp wit that has, in each of his novels, dissected and sometimes disemboweled Hollywood excess.Now, in his most ambitious book to date, "Still Holding," the third in the Cellular Trilogy that began with "I'm Losing You" and "I'll Let You Go," Wagner immerses readers in post-September 11 Hollywood, revealing as much rabid ambition, rampant narcissism, and unchecked mental illness as ever. It is a scabrous, epiphanic, sometimes horrifying portrait of an entangled community of legitimate stars, delusional wanna-bes, and psychosociopaths. Wagner infiltrates the gilded life of a superstar actor/sex symbol/practicing Buddhist, the compromised world of a young actress whose big break comes when she's hired to play a corpse on "Six Feet Under," and the strange parallel universe of look-alikes -- an entire industry in which struggling actors are hired out for parties and conventions to play their famous counterparts. Alternately hilarious and heartfelt, ferocious and empathetic, "Still Holding" is Bruce Wagner's most expertly calibrated work.
Composed of two companion novellas, The Empty Chair is a profound, heart-wrenching piece of spiritual storytelling from Bruce Wagner, the internationally acclaimed author of such novels as Dead Stars, I’m Losing You and Force Majeure. In First Guru, a fictional Wagner narrates the tale of a Buddhist living in Big Sur, who achieves enlightenment in the horrific aftermath of his child’s suicide. In Second Guru, Queenie, an aging wild child, returns to India to complete the spiritual journey of her youth. Told in ravaged, sensuous detail to the author-narrator by two strangers on opposite sides of the country, years apart from each other, both stories illuminate the random, chaotic nature of human suffering and the miraculous strength of the human spirit. A deeply affecting and meditative reading experience, The Empty Chair is an exquisitely rendered, thought-provoking, and humbling new work.
The story explores contemporary themes through sharp wit and humor, showcasing the author's signature satirical style. It delves into the absurdities of modern life, offering a critical yet entertaining perspective on societal norms and celebrity culture. With a blend of engaging characters and clever dialogue, the narrative promises to both amuse and provoke thought, reflecting the complexities of today's world.
The narrative centers on a young boy's quest to find his absent father while navigating the complexities of his life with his beautiful but troubled mother, Katrina, who struggles with addiction. Their journey intertwines with the lives of a street orphan and a homeless schizophrenic, exploring themes of loss, family, and the search for identity amidst chaos. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, the story delves into the darker aspects of urban life and the bonds that form in times of crisis.
Exploring Hollywood's intricate class dynamics, the narrative showcases Bruce Wagner's keen insights as both an author and a cultural anthropologist. The book delves into the complexities of fame, power, and societal structures within the entertainment industry, offering a critical examination of the lives and motivations of its inhabitants. Wagner's unique perspective reveals the often hidden realities behind the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, making it a compelling read for those interested in the darker undercurrents of celebrity culture.
Set against the backdrop of Hollywood's excesses, this epic novel weaves together a diverse cast of characters, including love-struck porn stars, ambitious choreographers, scheming dermatologists, and quirky masseurs and therapists. Through their intertwined lives, the story explores themes of desire, ambition, and the often absurd pursuit of fame in a world filled with debauchery and intrigue.
The Screenplay of Wild Palms, with foreword by William Gibson.
