Ill Have What Shes Having, Erin Carlson
Ill Have What Shes Having, Erin Carlson
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I'll Have What She's Having
How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy

Author: Erin Carlson

Narrator: Pippa Armstrong

Unabridged: 10 hr 36 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/29/2017


Synopsis

A backstage look at the making of Nora Ephron's revered trilogy--When Harry Met Sally, You've Got Mail, and Sleepless in Seattle--which brought romantic comedies back to the fore, and an intimate portrait of the beloved writer/director who inspired a generation of Hollywood women, from Mindy Kaling to Lena Dunham.

In I'll Have What She's Having entertainment journalist Erin Carlson tells the story of the real Nora Ephron and how she reinvented the romcom through her trio of instant classics. With a cast of famous faces including Rob Reiner, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, and Billy Crystal, Carlson takes readers on a rollicking, revelatory trip to Ephron's New York City, where reality took a backseat to romance and Ephron--who always knew what she wanted and how she wanted it--ruled the set with an attention to detail that made her actors feel safe but sometimes exasperated crew members.

Along the way, Carlson examines how Ephron explored in the cinema answers to the questions that plagued her own romantic life and how she regained faith in love after one broken engagement and two failed marriages. Carlson also explores countless other questions Ephron's fans have wondered about: What sparked Reiner to snap out of his bachelor blues during the making of When Harry Met Sally? Why was Ryan, a gifted comedian trapped in the body of a fairytale princess, not the first choice for the role? After she and Hanks each separatel balked at playing Mail's Kathleen Kelly and Sleepless' Sam Baldwin, what changed their minds? And perhaps most importantly: What was Dave Chappelle doing . . . in a turtleneck? An intimate portrait of a one of America's most iconic filmmakers and a look behind the scenes of her crowning achievements, I'll Have What She's Having is a vivid account of the days and nights when Ephron, along with assorted cynical collaborators, learned to show her heart on the screen.

Reviews

There's little doubt of Nora Ephron's contribution to rom coms, and this book illuminates it in detail. The title of the book spells the essence while bringing a smile to those who witnessed Meg Ryan's orgasm in a NY deli! Harry met Sally is iconic as is the question, can men and women be friends. Wh......more

Goodreads review by Zoann

I was disappointed in this book. I had hoped for an analysis of Nora Ephron's films, but this reads more like a long People magazine article. I love Ephron's iconic films (Sleepless in Seattle, When Harry Met Sally and You've Got Mail) so there was just enough inside info about the movie-making proc......more

Goodreads review by Alex

A book about three of my favorite movies ("When Harry Met Sally", "Sleepless in Seattle", and "You've Got Mail"), yes please! The writing was often clunky and overly detailed, but, who cares? Meg and Billy, Meg and Tom, and Nora Ephron's epitomizing, New York-based movie settings carry the book. Rem......more

Goodreads review by Rachna

Honestly enjoyed the heck out of this. It obviously helped that the three movies that the bulk of this movie is about are some of my favourite movies of all time!, but I think it also helped how well the behind-the-scenes mechanics of them were described - the conception of the stories, the interpla......more


Quotes

"[Erin Carlson] offers a breezy, detailed rehearsal of three successful romantic comedies from the 1980s and '90s.... A large bag of buttery popcorn that goes down oh so pleasantly."—Kirkus Reviews

"Deeply reported and deeply felt, Carlson's account of Nora Ephron's unlikely rise to romantic comedy queen deftly exposes the messy, human reality lurking beneath those sparkling paeans to true love. Magically nostalgic, cynical, and smart all at once."—JenniferKeishin Armstrong, author of Seinfeldia and Mary and Lou andRhoda and Ted

"In her love letter to the rom-coms of Nora Ephron, Erin Carlson brings us on a nostalgic, insightful, and joyous ride through the legendary writer/director's most iconic works. Full of the whimsy, heartbreak, attention to detail, and romantic optimism that defined Ephron's films, I'll Have What She's Having is a must-read for anyone who is a fan of the filmmaker's genre-defining classics."—Danny Strong, co-creator and executive producer of Empire

"Erin Carlson would make Nora Ephron proud with this deeply reported valentine to her work. Written with warmth, humor, and surprises, Carlson provides plenty of dishy insider scoop on the making of the renowned writer's beloved films. This book is the perfect companion to your favorite movie. A delicious read that will have you laughing out loud."—Jo Piazza, New York Times bestselling co-author of TheKnockoff

"When the subject is Nora Ephron, culinary metaphors prove irresistible: Erin Carlson has cooked up a dish full of delicious insight into an icon who was both warm and snobbish,full of juicy tidbits about a feminist who preferred to hang out with the guys,a trenchant trailblazer with an old-fashioned belief in love.I'll Have What She's Having offers a satisfying portrait of a lady who wasn't always 'nice' but who nevertheless created timeless moments to fill our hearts and give us hope—Faith Salie,author of Approval Junkie and contributor to CBS Sunday Morning

"Erin Carlson has served up a lively, inside look at the making of Nora Ephron's three famous rom-coms and how she broke into the male-dominated directing club. Anyone who loves Nora and her films will relish this book."—Lynn Povich, authorof The Good Girls Revolt

"Read this book in an adorable bookshop and, who knows, maybe you'll meet-cute with a handsome stranger reading the same book. Of course, if he's reading a book about Nora Ephron rom-coms, he may be gay. Ugh, that is sooo your luck, Carol! Also, it's raining now and you're wearing suede."—Meredith Scardino,writer for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Colbert Report, thisbook blurb

"Perky and approachable . . . those who miss funny romantic comedies will enjoy this detailed behind-the-scenes look at three of the best."—Library Journal

"Carlson's first book pays affectionate and clear-eyed tribute to the three most popular movies associated with screenwriter and director Nora Ephron. Going behind the scenes to explore the making of When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail, she dispenses insider information that fans of the movies will find hard to resist ... her breezy, frisky tone makes reading the book like sharing a gossipy lunch with an old friend. Although she keeps the focus on the three films, she also allows herself to go off on fascinating tangents about the lives and other movies of the director and her stars. As sweet and bubbly a treat as the movies it covers, this book does what it does impeccably, and readers will love it."—Booklist

"I'll Have What She's Having: How Nora Ephron's Three Iconic Films Saved the Romantic Comedy delivers a delight of buzzy Hollywood backstories unearthed by veteran entertainment journalist Erin Carlson. The book also serves as a tribute . . . Hanks, Ryan, Rob Reiner and a host of others provided fresh interviews about Ephron, with great results."—New York Daily News