Posted on November 5, 2007 by Steve Pollak
Publishers Weekly reported today that Harpers preempted a new book by Dani Shapiro (pictured right) in which the author will “explore and understand the anxiety that has governed her life, in the process grappling with questions of faith, meaning and identity.”
Shapiro, the author of five novels and one memoir, “Slow Motion,” grew up in an Orthodox Jewish home and attended yeshiva until seventh grade when she went to prep school. Afterward, she attended Sarah Lawrence College where she met her future mentor, Grace Paley.
But, she didn’t stay at Sarah Lawrence long enough to graduate. In “Slow Motion,” Shapiro talks about how she dropped out of college, became dependant on alcohol and drugs and had an affair with her best friend’s stepfather.
At this low point in her life, tragedy strikes. Her parents are badly hurt in a car wreck and Shapiro must summon the strength to help them in any way she can. She returns home to New Jersey and, in the process of helping her parents, Shapiro begins her own recovery. She re-enrolls as an undergrad in Sarah Lawrence, pursues her writing career and re-connects with her Orthodox Jewish roots.
Knopf published Shapiro’s last novel, “Black & White,” in April and Christina Ricci’s production company has optioned it for a film.
According to Publishers Weekly, Shapiro’s new book will publish in early 2010.