Late Night Talking: A Novel

by Leslie Schnur

Overview

From the acclaimed author of The Dog Walker comes Late Night Talking, a tender and funny novel about bad behavior, the fragility of friendship and family, and how we cannot choose whom we love.

Jeannie Sterling, host of a late-night NYC talk show, vents with her listeners about everyday injustices, from rude cell phone users and poor gym etiquette to bad drivers and negligent pet owners -- the many aggravations of modern urban life. An idealistic California girl raised by two free-spirited parents, Jeannie believes in a life of value through activism. She's passionate about making a difference, about making the world a better place, one annoying person at a time.

For as long as she can remember, success in her career has been more than enough. But after all these years of being single, Jeannie realizes that some of the pieces of her perfect puzzle aren't fitting quite right. The people she thought she knew best all harbor secrets, secrets Jeannie isn't prepared for, secrets that can't be digested, processed, and solved in the neat three-hour window of her show. Her best friend, Luce, is growing distant and distracted; her wayward father unexpectedly moves in; and an ambiguous relationship with her college crush ignites.

When the radio station is bought by the maverick mogul Nicholas Moss, Jeannie's career, her one safe haven, also descends into chaos. She is pushed to increase ratings and goes too far, risking the loss of everything and everyone important to her.

Delightfully real and deliciously flawed, Jeannie Sterling is a character we can't help but root for as she faces her life's most hilarious -- and heartbreaking -- challenges.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416538790
Publisher:	Atria Books
Publication date:	05/15/2007
Sold by:	SIMON & SCHUSTER
Format:	eBook
Pages:	320
File size:	405 KB

About the Author

Leslie Schnur was previously the editor-in-chief of Delacorte
Press/Dell Publishing. Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and a
graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, she currently
lives in New York City with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Hometown:

New York, New York

Date of Birth:

October 3, 1954

Place of Birth:

Lorain, Ohio

Education:

B.A. University of California, Berkeley, 1977

Website:

http://www.leslieschnur.com

Read an Excerpt

Morning Walk

There is something about Tribeca at five A.M. that is preternaturally romantic, Jeannie thought as she made a left onto Warren from Broadway, the ca-thunk of her Frye boots on the broken sidewalk echoing in the ethereal quiet, her fringed suede jacket protecting her against the cool morning air. An ellipse of lavender light sat like a halo over the city, the heavens above it cobalt blue. The streets were almost empty, hushed, except for a lone taxi and a van double-parked up the block. In less than an hour the morning rush would descend, but until then, this city of millions was at peace, dreamy and mysterious. And it was all hers. The cobblestone streets, the narrow alleys, the tree-lined squares, and the red brick buildings made her imagine ardent young lovers in their beds, made her aware of her own heart, full of possibility and desire.

She took this walk, rain or shine, five days a week, through the streets she loved. Only blocks from Ground Zero, this part of town was complex: historically rich, seedy, and chic, with ninety-nine-cent stores, designer furnishings, and trendy restaurants sharing a sidewalk. Its tragic, horrific past united the community, making it feel like a village, separate and apart from the rest of the city.

By the time Jeannie reached the corner of Hudson and Franklin, the preworkday hubbub was under way. She waved to Bill, who was unlocking the hefty padlock on the security gate at Ideal Dry Cleaners; to Tranh, who was sweeping the doorway at Jin Market; to her buddy Jonas at the counter of Socrates Coffee Shop. She bid a "Good morning!" to Esther, the tranny who religiously walked her two miniature white poodles, Marilyn and Marlene, up and down North Moore every morning at the same hour. She gave a buck to Stuart, the homeless guy who lived in the alley off Beach. These were the things she did every morning, the things that made this huge city feel like a quaint small town to her.

After her show, the long walk felt necessary, restorative. Tonight was a case in point. All those callers, all those complaints about all those idiots who behaved as if they never had a mother to teach them anything. And she certainly knew, as well as anybody, the effect of having a mother and then not having a mother. You have someone monitoring your deeds and then you don't, and you're on your own.

But something was going on in this beloved town of hers. Even with the crime rate down, rudeness was at an all-time high. Tonight she'd heard just a few examples: the woman getting a manicure who asked a young woman to lower the volume on her iPod -- and then she was unjustly asked to leave the salon; the man who wouldn't give a pregnant lady his seat on the bus because it was her choice to get pregnant, and not his responsibility; the woman at the gym on the elliptical who'd cover her timer with a towel and repeatedly set it to zero, hoping nobody noticed that she'd far exceeded her thirty-minute limit; the guy talking on his cell phone while at the urinal in the office bathroom.

It was as if, like in those cartoons she saw as a kid, every person had a little angel whispering in one ear and a mini devil in the other, vying for control: be good, be bad, do right, do wrong, be considerate, be selfish, throw the wrapper in the garbage, just throw it in the street.

Someday, somehow, she swore to herself, she was going to devise a method to help the people with louder devils. Somewhere, someplace, her faith in the potential goodness of people, even when they're caught with their dick in one hand and their cell phone in the other, would be transforming.

A girl can dream, Jeannie thought as she entered her apartment building.

"Morning, Tony." She smiled at her night doorman, who had rushed from his perch at the desk to open the door. He had been sorting newspapers, getting ready to pass the baton to the morning guy. She could hear the radio that sat on the desk.

"Morning, Miss Sterling. Good show last night. Can't believe those people."

"You're telling me," she said, rolling her eyes.

He looked up at the sky. "But it's going to be some kind of day, isn't it?"

That was an understatement.

Copyright © 2007 by Leslie Schnur

Reading Group Guide

From Leslie Schnur, the acclaimed author of The Dog Walker, comes a new novel about Jeannie Sterling, New York City late-night talk show host extraordinaire. Jeannie thinks the world could be a better place, if only people weren't so irritating!

Every night from 12:00 to 4:00 a.m., she and her listeners vent about the everyday injustices -- from rude cell phone users to poor commuter etiquette -- on her radio show, Sterling Behavior. A California girl raised by two free-spirited parents, Jeannie believes in a life of value through activism. But after all these years of being single, she's starting to notice that some of the pieces of her perfect puzzle aren't fitting quite right. An unexpected visit from her father and an ambiguous relationship with her college crush start to make her life feel out of control. And Jeannie doesn't like being out of control.

When the radio station is bought by the dangerously attractive New York mogul Nicholas Moss, it's almost as if Jeannie's career, her one safe haven, starts driving itself. And despite the fact that she's already called Moss a turkey and a pig, she can't stop herself from daydreaming...and fantasizing. Snappy and sensitive, Jeannie Sterling is a character we can't help but root for as she faces her life's biggest -- and most hilarious -- challenges.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

1. From cutting another driver off on the road to bad gym etiquette and leaving "doggie doodie" on the sidewalk, several examples of rude conduct are discussed on Sterling Behavior. Which example do you think is the most offensive? If you were to call into Jeannie's radio show, what poor manners and crimes against ethics would you report?

2. What do you think of Jeannie Sterling's crusade to eradicate rude behavior? Can you identify with her desire to be an "ethical avenger"? What does her profession say about her character?

3. Jeannie frequently points out the differences between herself and Luce throughout her narrative. In what ways are Jeannie and Luce similar? What do you think makes their relationship so strong?

4. Although Jeannie is the primary narrator, there are portions or passages within the novel when Tommy, Luce, and Moss narrate as well. Do you think that there is any significance to the parts of the story that the author chose to tell via the voices of these characters? What affect does switching the perspective have on the story as a whole?

5. Luce advises Jeannie, "Trust your instincts. Nobody is worth losing yourself over" (p. 167). Can you identify the moments when Jeannie's feelings for Tommy change? Can you identify the moments when she truly begins to fall for Moss?

6. As the novel progresses, we discover more and more about Jeannie's childhood. Does her nontraditional upbringing justify the way she treats her friends, Lindsey, and later, Luce? Why or why not?

7. Do you agree with Luce's statement "Just because love is unconditional, it isn't always enough" (p. 283)? How do you believe Jeannie may or may not have applied this assertion to her own life?

8. How significant do you think Jeannie's father, and even Mouse, his "gift" to Jeannie, are in terms of Jeannie's character development?

9. In what ways do Jeannie's feelings about love, friendship, and family evolve over the course of this novel? Do you believe that she is the character that undergoes the largest transformation? How, if at all, do the other main characters change?

10. If we were to define this novel as the story of one woman's quest to truly find herself, do you believe Jeannie accomplishes that by the end? What actions or events demonstrated that she may have lost herself at some point along the way?

11. Where do you see Jeannie and Moss in fifteen years? Do you think their relationship can be sustained? If there were a sequel to Late Night Talking, where do think we'd find the characters, and what would their story be?

12. Main themes in this novel include true love and the sacrifices people must make in order to find it, and discovering how and by what means people can make a societal impact. How far do you think people should be willing to go for love? What do you think is the best way to fight for a cause you believe in? What does the novel imply? Has it changed you views?

TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB

1. Just as the tone of the show, Sterling Behavior, evolves from beginning to end, mirror this transformation with the following activity. Spend one day noting and recording rude or unethical practices. The following day, do the same practice, but instead record only good and kind behavior. Share your findings with the group!

2. Music, especially from the 60's and 70's, is highly influential to both Jeannie and Moss. Create a list of your top five favorite artists, and include your favorite songs and any lyrics that are particularly meaningful to you. Compare your list and discuss with other members of your book club, or make a soundtrack for the meeting.

3. Go to Leslie Schnur's website, leslieschnur.com, and explore. Read the "Leslie Rants" section. Recognize anything from the book?

Introduction

From Leslie Schnur, the acclaimed author of The Dog Walker, comes a new novel about Jeannie Sterling, New York City late-night talk show host extraordinaire. Jeannie thinks the world could be a better place, if only people weren't so irritating!

Every night from 12:00 to 4:00 a.m., she and her listeners vent about the everyday injustices — from rude cell phone users to poor commuter etiquette — on her radio show, Sterling Behavior. A California girl raised by two free-spirited parents, Jeannie believes in a life of value through activism. But after all these years of being single, she's starting to notice that some of the pieces of her perfect puzzle aren't fitting quite right. An unexpected visit from her father and an ambiguous relationship with her college crush start to make her life feel out of control. And Jeannie doesn't like being out of control.

When the radio station is bought by the dangerously attractive New York mogul Nicholas Moss, it's almost as if Jeannie's career, her one safe haven, starts driving itself. And despite the fact that she's already called Moss a turkey and a pig, she can't stop herself from daydreaming...and fantasizing. Snappy and sensitive, Jeannie Sterling is a character we can't help but root for as she faces her life's biggest — and most hilarious — challenges.

QUESTIONS AND TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

1. From cutting another driver off on the road to bad gym etiquette and leaving "doggie doodie" on the sidewalk, several examples of rude conduct are discussed on Sterling Behavior. Which example do you think is the most offensive? If you were to call into Jeannie's radio show, whatpoor manners and crimes against ethics would you report?

2. What do you think of Jeannie Sterling's crusade to eradicate rude behavior? Can you identify with her desire to be an "ethical avenger"? What does her profession say about her character?

3. Jeannie frequently points out the differences between herself and Luce throughout her narrative. In what ways are Jeannie and Luce similar? What do you think makes their relationship so strong?

4. Although Jeannie is the primary narrator, there are portions or passages within the novel when Tommy, Luce, and Moss narrate as well. Do you think that there is any significance to the parts of the story that the author chose to tell via the voices of these characters? What affect does switching the perspective have on the story as a whole?

5. Luce advises Jeannie, "Trust your instincts. Nobody is worth losing yourself over" (p. 167). Can you identify the moments when Jeannie's feelings for Tommy change? Can you identify the moments when she truly begins to fall for Moss?

6. As the novel progresses, we discover more and more about Jeannie's childhood. Does her nontraditional upbringing justify the way she treats her friends, Lindsey, and later, Luce? Why or why not?

7. Do you agree with Luce's statement "Just because love is unconditional, it isn't always enough" (p. 283)? How do you believe Jeannie may or may not have applied this assertion to her own life?

8. How significant do you think Jeannie's father, and even Mouse, his "gift" to Jeannie, are in terms of Jeannie's character development?

9. In what ways do Jeannie's feelings about love, friendship, and family evolve over the course of this novel? Do you believe that she is the character that undergoes the largest transformation? How, if at all, do the other main characters change?

10. If we were to define this novel as the story of one woman's quest to truly find herself, do you believe Jeannie accomplishes that by the end? What actions or events demonstrated that she may have lost herself at some point along the way?

11. Where do you see Jeannie and Moss in fifteen years? Do you think their relationship can be sustained? If there were a sequel to Late Night Talking, where do think we'd find the characters, and what would their story be?

12. Main themes in this novel include true love and the sacrifices people must make in order to find it, and discovering how and by what means people can make a societal impact. How far do you think people should be willing to go for love? What do you think is the best way to fight for a cause you believe in? What does the novel imply? Has it changed you views?

TIPS TO ENHANCE YOUR BOOK CLUB

1. Just as the tone of the show, Sterling Behavior, evolves from beginning to end, mirror this transformation with the following activity. Spend one day noting and recording rude or unethical practices. The following day, do the same practice, but instead record only good and kind behavior. Share your findings with the group!

2. Music, especially from the 60's and 70's, is highly influential to both Jeannie and Moss. Create a list of your top five favorite artists, and include your favorite songs and any lyrics that are particularly meaningful to you. Compare your list and discuss with other members of your book club, or make a soundtrack for the meeting.

3. Go to Leslie Schnur's website, www.leslieschnur.com, and explore. Read the "Leslie Rants" section. Recognize anything from the book?

Editorial Reviews

Schnur has written a cute, light-hearted novel about expectations, love and the cost of doing the right thing.
—Booklist

"Entertaining...The main character is lovably flawed, and so is almost everyone orbiting in her up-and-down universe, which may remind us of a lot of people we know, including ourselves."

— LifetimeTV.com

"Leslie Schnur entertained us in 2004 with her bestselling debut novel, The Dog Walker. She's back this summer with Late Night Talking...a charming novel."

— Jewish Woman Magazine

From the Publisher