Kiley Reid was still a graduate student when her debut novel was scooped up by Lena Waithe for adaptation. Over a year later, it’s finally hitting shelves.
. She delights in being asked about’s neat trick: nestling a nuanced take on racial biases and class divides into a page-turning saga of betrayals, twists, and perfectly awkward relationships. “I love this question, so I’m going to take my time with it,” she says, almost to herself. “I wanted a compulsive read because that’s the kind of stuff that I love to read and write.
“I can’t not be inspired by things that I see on the news, or see around me,” Reid says. She started writing the novel back in 2015, during a time of heightened racial tensions in America. “I had been to a few Black Lives Matter marches,” she says. “A lot of these police-brutality events were happening to low-income black Americans.
And yet the novel feels bound for book-club glory, due to its sheer readability. The dialogue crackles with naturalistic flair. The plotting is breezy and surprising. Plus, while Reid’s feel for both the funny and the political is undeniable, she imbues her flawed heroes with real heart. Briar, for one, is about as believably adorable a toddler as you’ll find in a novel.
Reid could do this all day. She discusses her struggles balancing comedy and drama, then goes deep on the spiky ending , sure to get readers talking. But it’s not every day that a debut novel gets bought outright by one of Hollywood’s most exciting talents, and so we must end there. “It was very strange,” Reid admits of learning that Waithe was interested.hadn’t even been sent out formally for acquisition when she got the call. “I got off of a flight, and [my agent] said, ‘Your book leaked.
Reid has to keep mum on the details, but the adaptation is progressing. She’s ecstatic — for the creative challenge, for reaching a wider audience, for collaborating with other artists. But mostly for what this opportunity represents. “I’m extremely excited to have so many women of color on screen, of all different shades,” she says.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Andrea Long Chu on Her Juicily Transgressive Book, 'Females'This is a book that hurt to write—but is, theorygurl hopes, provocative in a good way.
Read more »
Your First Look At Samsung’s Radical Galaxy S11The first flagships to break cover next year will likely be Samsung's Galaxy S11 family. You need to have a look at it.
Read more »
Colin Firth and Livia Giuggioli Split a Year After She Admits to Affair With Her Alleged StalkerColin Firth and his wife, Livia Giuggioli, announced they've broken up a year after she admitted to having an affair with her alleged stalker.
Read more »
If Your Self Esteem Took A Hit After Having A Baby, You're Not AloneNew study suggests it can take moms at least three years to get their self-esteem back after having a baby.
Read more »
Amy Schumer Wrote A Totally Sincere Post Praising The Kardashians'I have made a million jokes over the years. But I love that family,” the comedian wrote.
Read more »