1 day Ago By Theresa Bourke
BRAINERD — Our final featured author for the inaugural Words by the Water event hosted by the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library is Curtis Sittenfeld.A Minneapolis-based author whose works have twice been selected for Reese’s Book Club, Sittenfeld has written seven novels and two short story collections. From coming of age, to rom-com to historical and political fiction, Sittenfeld has entertained the public with her writing for 20 years and rubbed elbows with high-powered celebrities like Barbara Walters, Michelle Obama and Mindy Kaling while writing profiles of them for “Time” magazine, “Vanity Fair” and other publications.
‘Romantic Comedy’ by Curtis Sittenfeld (2023)Sally Milz’s life revolves around comedy. She landed her dream job as a writer for the sketch comedy show, “The Night Owls,” which airs live every Saturday night from New York City. The hours are crazy, the work is demanding and the celebrity guest stars are unpredictable.
When Sally learns of her coworker Danny’s engagement to a gorgeous movie star who previously appeared on the show, she channels her frustration into a new sketch. In “The Danny Horst Rule,” she explores the phenomenon that is average, run-of-the-mill male writers for the show somehow ending up with the prettiest famous actresses. There’s no way, Sally decides, anything of the sort would happen if the gender roles were reversed.
But in walks pop star Noah Brewster in spring 2018, and everything Sally thought she knew about love and romances quickly goes out the window.As the week’s musical guest and celebrity host, Noah brings his guitar, his charm and his annoyingly beautiful blonde hair to the set, proving to actually have a comedy bone himself when he takes on the challenge of writing his own sketch. He takes Sally by surprise when he seeks her out for help polishing his work.
Fast forward to summer 2020, and the TV world has halted to a standstill with the COVID-19 pandemic. Sally finds herself back in her hometown of Kansas City, wondering how the next season of “The Night Owls” will look, when an unexpected email pops into her inbox.Just as she’s about to give up on love, it appears Sally might have one last chance — if she’s able to push past her insecurities and the gender stereotypes she’s spent so long satirizing at work.
Sittenfeld’s quick wit shines, making “Romantic Comedy” one of the cutest and most delightful rom-coms I’ve had the pleasure of reading.‘Show Don’t Tell’ by Curtis Sittenfeld (2025)Sittenfeld’s second collection of short stories hit shelves in February and features 12 narratives about marriage, fame, friendship and life in general.Middle-aged women second-guessing their marriages, a young writer just starting out in life and the protagonist of Sittenfeld’s first novel, “Prep,” visiting her boarding school as an adult comprise the cast of characters navigating their lives the best they can, rolling with the punches and learning at every turn, whether they’re 25 or 55.
Short stories have never typically been my preferred method of reading, but there was something about this compilation that hooked me from the beginning. I found Sittenfeld’s writing style engaging and easily enjoyable, her characters authentic and believable, and her stories moving and thought-provoking. At the risk of sounding like Forrest Gump, I can’t help but compare this collection to a box of chocolates.
When I finished one story, I didn’t know what the next would bring. Perhaps it would have a sweet message embedded in the lines, or maybe a little saltiness would ooze out through bitter memories and harsh realities.No matter the center of each chocolate, the lesson of each story, the temperament of each character, I sat in quiet contemplation at the end of each narrative, reflecting on how much I enjoyed what I just read before moving on to the next.
Editor’s note: Theresa Bourke is a member of the Friends of the Brainerd Public Library Board.THERESA BOURKE may be reached at theresa.bourke@brainerddispatch.
com or 218-855-5860. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.
com/DispatchTheresa.]]>.
