Spalding Gray Knihy

With daring virtuosity, writer-actor-performance artist Spalding Gray takes us on an odyssey for our time - a dizzy escapade swerving and plunging between outrageous hilarity and chilling revelation - stretching all the way from Gulf of Siam to poolside Beverly Hills. Inspired by his experiences acting in the Academy Award-winning film The Killing Fields, master storyteller Gray has enthralled audiences from coast to coast and in Europe with his solo performances of Swimming to CambodiaNow this major voice from the American theatre avant-garde becomes a major voice in American literature as his newest, most ambitious work appears for the first time complete in print. And now readers can join his large, loyal theatre following on his quest for the ever elusive Perfect Moment, in the last days of the twentieth century.

The journals provide an intimate glimpse into the complex inner world of the actor-writer known for pioneering the autobiographical monologue. With a blend of humor and poignancy, they capture his raw emotions and lyrical reflections, showcasing the creative process behind his acclaimed work, including Swimming to Cambodia. This collection reveals the struggles and triumphs of a unique artistic voice, making it a compelling read for fans and those interested in the craft of storytelling.

In middle age Spalding Gray has entered "the Bermuda Triangle of Health," that place where the body begins to break down in alarming and humiliating ways. His immediate problem is an eye complaint that could be corrected with minor surgery. But for the high priest of high anxiety, nothing is ever minor. And so Gray embarks on a crazed crusade for wellness that takes him from a Native American sweat lodge to a dictatorial nutritionist and, finally, to a gory session with the "Elvis Presley of psychic surgeons" in the Far East.Exquisitely timed, unfettered in its intelligence, and funny enough to push readers to the brink of cardiac arrest, Gray's Anatomy is a surreal tour de force of body and soul.

Having detailed the agonies of writing a book in his monologue Monster in a Box, Spalding Gray now gives us the monster itself: a convulsively funny, unexpectedly moving novel about a man eternally searching for a moment of protected pleasure even as he is permanently incapable of finding it. Brewster North witnesses his mother's madness but misses her suicide; searches frantically for enlightenment in the Poconos and zipless sex in India; suffers family ennui in Rhode Island and a nervous breakdown in Amsterdam. In the process he emerges as a hilariously complex everyman. And as Gray narrates his hero's free fall, he confirms his own stature as one of our funniest, most eccentric, and most engaging storytellers.

This engaging monologue explores the comedic side of fatherhood, showcasing the author's distinctive comedic style. Through witty observations and relatable anecdotes, it captures the challenges and joys of being a dad, offering both laughter and insight. The narrative highlights the absurdities of parenting, making it a must-read for anyone who appreciates humor in everyday life.

The narrative delves into Spalding Gray's tumultuous year marked by significant life changes, including a whirlwind marriage and divorce, moving in with his girlfriend Kathie, and embracing fatherhood. As he learns to ski, particularly mastering the challenging right turn, he navigates the complexities of love, betrayal, and personal growth. This journey serves as a metaphor for his mid-life crisis, showcasing his struggle to find balance in both skiing and life. It's a compelling exploration of resilience and transformation.

For some time now, writer-actor-performance artist Spalding Gray has been carrying around with him a monster: a manuscript of a novel called Impossible Vacation, a book that at last sighting weighed in at about 1,800 pages. Monster in a Box, Gray's latest monologue, is a guided tour between the stations of his writing block, which include a field trip to Nicaragua, a disastrous guest appearance at the Moscow film festival, and a stint in Los Angeles hunting down the fabled few who have never written a screenplay. Hilarious and poignant, Monster in a Box is further proof that Gray has not only captured the dangerous spirit of our age but swallowed it whole.