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Tom Perrotta

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33: 1157: 317:, which remains unpublished as of 2022 and which Perrotta described in 2004 as "a pretty good novel about a family that falls apart after winning the lottery." In 1994, Perrotta published his first book, a collection of short stories titled 1150: 418:
called him "the rare writer equally gifted at drawing people's emotional maps...and creating sidesplitting scenes". For his part, Perrotta describes himself as a writer in the "plain-language American tradition" of authors such as
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My paternal grandparents were Italian immigrants from a village near Avellino. I grew up hearing them and my dad talk Italian. My mother's relatives were Albanians, but they, too, lived in Italy before emigrating to the
1166: 448:, the screenplay is "a shameless comedy a 40-something dermatologist who goes on spring break". In January 2007, Perrotta was on the guest faculty for the third annual Writers in Paradise conference at 704:
He was born in 1961 in Garwood, where he spent his entire childhood. His father was an Italian postal worker, his mother an Albanian-Italian - "that made her a second-class Italian" - secretary.
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immigrant former secretary, who stayed home to raise him along with his older brother and younger sister. Perrotta enjoyed reading authors such as
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While teaching creative writing at Yale, Perrotta completed three novels that he had trouble getting published. One was
1377: 1088: 990: 488: 1026: 339:, his first novel, which Perrotta has said is basically "about my high school years". The unpublished manuscript of 1347: 1078: 384: 823: 1129: 954: 802: 487:
as a 2007 Notable Book of the Year. As of October 2007, he was working on a film adaptation of the book with
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In 2010, 30,000 copies of his short story "The Smile on Happy Chang's Face" were distributed as part of the
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Perrotta married writer Mary Granfield in 1991, and they have two children. As of 2019, the couple lives in
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whose characters even at their most ridiculous seem blessed and ennobled by a luminous human aura", and
1006: 866: 686: 366:, Perrotta shifted his focus to an older—though just as troubled—cast of characters: first with 2000's 257: 753: 473:, was published on October 16, 2007. It is, according to the author, "all about sex education and the 523: 209: 889: 526:
that began running in 2014 to critical acclaim for three seasons. He later adapted his 2017 novel,
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was Perrotta's "breakout book", featured on numerous "Best Books of 2004" lists—including those of
571: 453: 372: 236:. His father was an Italian immigrant postal worker, whose parents emigrated from a village near 174: 1165: 809:, January 22, 2010. Accessed March 11, 2024. "Tom Perrotta is a 1979 graduate of David Brearley" 1367: 579: 469: 292: 183: 587: 557: 513: 395: 305: 241: 233: 204: 168: 32: 910: 1322: 1237: 870: 828: 501: 493: 348: 166:(born August 13, 1961) is an American novelist and screenwriter best known for his novels 8: 1215: 323: 281: 229: 95: 376:, which explored the psychological and romantic depths beneath the surface of suburbia. 994: 977: 729: 725: 483: 406: 332: 225: 58: 787:"Adaptation: Tom Perrotta is growing accustomed to seeing his books on the big screen" 1120: 1084: 460:; the two writers had previously taught together at Stonecoast Writers Conference in 400: 356: 352: 1282: 917: 790: 420: 265: 249: 90: 803:"Tom Perrotta and Lenore Jeans are new inductees into David Brearley Hall of Fame" 1278: 1219: 1045: 1013: 961: 896: 878: 431: 344: 273: 269: 256:, and decided early in his life that he wanted to be a writer. He graduated from 86: 351:, which was released in April 1999 to critical acclaim. The film, which starred 1300: 1262: 1249: 508: 449: 424: 309:, the story of an intense high-school election inspired by the three-candidate 277: 99: 331:". The same year, Perrotta left Yale and began teaching expository writing at 1316: 1272: 1203: 595: 528: 457: 441: 411: 328: 288:, whom Perrotta later praised for his "comic writing and moral seriousness". 195: 179: 1167:
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
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Audio: Tom Perrotta in conversation on the BBC World Service discussion show
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Damon Lindelof & Tom Perrotta's ‘Leftovers’ Gets Pilot Order At HBO
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in 1979, where he was involved in the school's literary magazine,
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Alexander, Kevin. "Suburban Observer" (interview with Perrotta),
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magazine—and garnering tremendous praise for Perrotta.
939:"Tom Perrotta on How to Keep a Story’s Momentum Going" 232:, where he spent his entire childhood, and was raised 1016:, Official Web Site. Retrieved on October 20, 2007. 343:was optioned as a screenplay in 1996 by director 1314: 1060:"The Leftovers - By Tom Perrotta - Book Review" 899:, Official Web Site. Retrieved on July 4, 2007. 1151: 1029:. Kirkusreviews.com. Retrieved on 2014-06-05. 726:"A Writer's Search for the Sex in Abstinence" 456:. Perrotta was invited to teach at Eckerd by 284:. While at Syracuse, Perrotta was a pupil of 793:, October 18, 2006. Retrieved on 2007-07-04. 732:, October 14, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-10-20. 359:, helped popularize Perrotta as an author. 1158: 1144: 1048:. Deadline.com. Retrieved on June 5, 2014. 997:, March 14, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-07-04. 636: 31: 945:, June 10, 2022. Retrieved on 2022-11-13. 1076: 908: 821: 720: 718: 716: 714: 712: 626:"The Smile on Happy Chang's Face" (2004) 434:an original screenplay he co-wrote with 972: 970: 781: 779: 777: 775: 1315: 1027:THE LEFTOVERS by Tom Perrotta | Kirkus 861: 859: 857: 855: 853: 851: 741: 208:(2011), which has been adapted into a 1139: 817: 815: 709: 684: 680: 678: 643:Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies 327:called "more powerful than any other 319:Bad Haircut: Stories of the Seventies 1353:American people of ArbĂ«reshĂ« descent 1057: 991:"All the Children Are Above Average" 967: 909:Feldberg, Isaac (October 24, 2019). 822:Schwartz, Missy (October 15, 2007). 772: 311:1992 United States presidential race 1358:American writers of Italian descent 1261:Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, 848: 836:from the original on March 27, 2019 13: 1383:People from Belmont, Massachusetts 1338:21st-century American male writers 1328:20th-century American male writers 948: 812: 742:Fiamma, Florinda (March 1, 2012). 675: 504:'s "One City, One Story" project. 14: 1414: 1101: 1058:King, Stephen (August 25, 2011). 687:"A life in writing: Tom Perrotta" 685:Crace, John (February 21, 2009). 489:Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris 280:in English/creative writing from 240:, Campania, and his mother is an 202:. He is also known for his novel 955:"Meet the Writers: Tom Perrotta" 611: 1398:Writers from Newark, New Jersey 1388:People from Garwood, New Jersey 1343:21st-century American novelists 1333:20th-century American novelists 1070: 1051: 1032: 1025:Jensen, Liz. (August 30, 2011) 1019: 1007:"Books & Writing: Election" 1000: 983: 932: 623:"Forgiveness" (1989–1994) 539: 127: 902: 883: 796: 735: 385:The New York Times Book Review 276:in 1983, and then received an 1: 668: 481:, I think." It was chosen by 1373:Novelists from Massachusetts 219: 7: 1012:September 27, 2007, at the 964:, Barnesandnoble.com, 2004. 194:, for which he received an 10: 1419: 1393:Syracuse University alumni 1363:Harvard University faculty 1077:Perrotta, Tom (May 2018). 877:September 8, 2007, at the 477:. It's close in spirit to 258:David Brearley High School 1378:Novelists from New Jersey 1173: 655: 544: 298: 224:Tom Perrotta was born in 150: 145: 137: 114: 106: 82: 65: 42: 30: 23: 662:"The Squeamish American" 446:Barry and Stan Gone Wild 410:dubbed him "an American 1348:American male novelists 1044:April 13, 2013, at the 637:Short story collections 617:"The Weiner Man" (1988) 454:St. Petersburg, Florida 430:In 2006, Perrotta sold 335:. In 1997 he published 200:Best Adapted Screenplay 960:June 10, 2007, at the 895:June 24, 2016, at the 632:"Me and Carlos" (2020) 580:The Abstinence Teacher 470:The Abstinence Teacher 295:, a suburb of Boston. 293:Belmont, Massachusetts 867:"From page to screen" 620:"Wild Kingdom" (1988) 604:Tracy Flick Can't Win 396:National Public Radio 1238:Paul Thomas Anderson 890:"About Tom Perrotta" 873:, January 14, 2007. 871:St. Petersburg Times 829:Entertainment Weekly 629:"Kiddie Pool" (2006) 502:Boston Book Festival 494:Little Miss Sunshine 1403:Yale College alumni 865:Bancroft, Colette. 511:adapted his novel, 329:coming-of-age novel 324:The Washington Post 282:Syracuse University 230:Garwood, New Jersey 96:Syracuse University 1064:The New York Times 995:The New York Times 730:The New York Times 484:The New York Times 467:Perrotta's novel, 407:The New York Times 333:Harvard University 313:, and another was 226:Summit, New Jersey 164:Thomas R. Perrotta 59:Newark, New Jersey 1310: 1309: 536:, also for HBO. 357:Reese Witherspoon 353:Matthew Broderick 161: 160: 16:American novelist 1410: 1283:Jonathan Raymond 1216:Bridget O'Connor 1160: 1153: 1146: 1137: 1136: 1113: 1112: 1110:Official website 1095: 1094: 1074: 1068: 1067: 1055: 1049: 1036: 1030: 1023: 1017: 1004: 998: 987: 981: 974: 965: 952: 946: 936: 930: 929: 927: 925: 918:The Boston Globe 914: 906: 900: 887: 881: 863: 846: 845: 843: 841: 819: 810: 800: 794: 791:The Boston Globe 785:Shanahan, Mark. 783: 770: 769: 763: 761: 756:on March 4, 2016 752:. Archived from 739: 733: 722: 707: 706: 701: 699: 682: 421:Ernest Hemingway 250:J. R. R. Tolkien 242:Albanian-Italian 228:, and raised in 157: 154: 131: 129: 56: 52: 50: 37:Perrotta in 2007 35: 21: 20: 1418: 1417: 1413: 1412: 1411: 1409: 1408: 1407: 1313: 1312: 1311: 1306: 1279:Kelly Reichardt 1220:Peter Straughan 1169: 1164: 1108: 1107: 1104: 1099: 1098: 1091: 1075: 1071: 1056: 1052: 1046:Wayback Machine 1037: 1033: 1024: 1020: 1014:Wayback Machine 1005: 1001: 988: 984: 978:Writer's Digest 975: 968: 962:Wayback Machine 953: 949: 937: 933: 923: 921: 907: 903: 897:Wayback Machine 888: 884: 879:Wayback Machine 864: 849: 839: 837: 820: 813: 801: 797: 784: 773: 759: 757: 740: 736: 723: 710: 697: 695: 683: 676: 671: 658: 639: 614: 572:Little Children 547: 542: 509:Damon Lindeloff 491:, who directed 479:Little Children 432:New Line Cinema 380:Little Children 373:Little Children 349:film adaptation 345:Alexander Payne 301: 274:Yale University 222: 198:nomination for 188:Little Children 175:Little Children 151: 133: 130: 1991) 125: 121: 94: 87:Yale University 78: 57: 54: 53:August 13, 1961 48: 46: 38: 26: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1416: 1406: 1405: 1400: 1395: 1390: 1385: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1350: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1308: 1307: 1305: 1304: 1301:Cord Jefferson 1298: 1292: 1286: 1276: 1270: 1263:Kevin Willmott 1259: 1253: 1250:Eric Heisserer 1247: 1241: 1235: 1229: 1223: 1213: 1207: 1197: 1191: 1185: 1174: 1171: 1170: 1163: 1162: 1155: 1148: 1140: 1134: 1133: 1123: 1114: 1103: 1102:External links 1100: 1097: 1096: 1089: 1069: 1050: 1031: 1018: 999: 989:Blythe, Will. 982: 966: 947: 931: 901: 882: 847: 811: 795: 771: 734: 724:Rich, Motoko. 708: 673: 672: 670: 667: 666: 665: 657: 654: 653: 652: 646: 638: 635: 634: 633: 630: 627: 624: 621: 618: 613: 610: 609: 608: 600: 592: 584: 576: 568: 562: 554: 546: 543: 541: 538: 534:limited series 450:Eckerd College 425:Raymond Carver 300: 297: 234:Roman Catholic 221: 218: 159: 158: 148: 147: 143: 142: 139: 135: 134: 123: 120:Mary Granfield 119: 118: 116: 112: 111: 108: 104: 103: 84: 80: 79: 77: 76: 73: 69: 67: 63: 62: 44: 40: 39: 36: 28: 27: 24: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1415: 1404: 1401: 1399: 1396: 1394: 1391: 1389: 1386: 1384: 1381: 1379: 1376: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1368:Living people 1366: 1364: 1361: 1359: 1356: 1354: 1351: 1349: 1346: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1320: 1318: 1302: 1299: 1296: 1293: 1290: 1287: 1284: 1280: 1277: 1274: 1273:Taika Waititi 1271: 1268: 1264: 1260: 1257: 1254: 1251: 1248: 1245: 1242: 1239: 1236: 1233: 1230: 1227: 1224: 1221: 1217: 1214: 1211: 1208: 1205: 1204:Noah Baumbach 1201: 1198: 1195: 1192: 1189: 1186: 1183: 1179: 1176: 1175: 1172: 1168: 1161: 1156: 1154: 1149: 1147: 1142: 1141: 1138: 1132: 1131: 1127: 1124: 1122: 1118: 1115: 1111: 1106: 1105: 1092: 1090:9781501144035 1086: 1082: 1081: 1080:MRS. Fletcher 1073: 1065: 1061: 1054: 1047: 1043: 1040: 1035: 1028: 1022: 1015: 1011: 1008: 1003: 996: 992: 986: 979: 973: 971: 963: 959: 956: 951: 944: 940: 935: 920: 919: 913: 905: 898: 894: 891: 886: 880: 876: 872: 868: 862: 860: 858: 856: 854: 852: 835: 831: 830: 825: 818: 816: 808: 807:Suburban News 804: 799: 792: 788: 782: 780: 778: 776: 768: 760:September 29, 755: 751: 750: 745: 738: 731: 727: 721: 719: 717: 715: 713: 705: 698:September 29, 694: 693: 688: 681: 679: 674: 663: 660: 659: 650: 647: 644: 641: 640: 631: 628: 625: 622: 619: 616: 615: 612:Short stories 606: 605: 601: 598: 597: 596:Mrs. Fletcher 593: 590: 589: 588:The Leftovers 585: 582: 581: 577: 574: 573: 569: 566: 563: 560: 559: 555: 552: 551:The Wishbones 549: 548: 537: 535: 531: 530: 529:Mrs. Fletcher 525: 524:the same name 522:TV series of 521: 517: 515: 514:The Leftovers 510: 505: 503: 498: 496: 495: 490: 486: 485: 480: 476: 472: 471: 465: 463: 459: 458:Dennis Lehane 455: 451: 447: 443: 442:Rob Greenberg 439: 438: 433: 428: 426: 422: 417: 413: 409: 408: 403: 402: 397: 393: 392: 387: 386: 381: 377: 375: 374: 369: 365: 360: 358: 354: 350: 346: 342: 338: 337:The Wishbones 334: 330: 326: 325: 320: 316: 315:Lucky Winners 312: 308: 307: 296: 294: 289: 287: 283: 279: 275: 271: 267: 263: 259: 255: 251: 247: 243: 239: 235: 231: 227: 217: 215: 211: 207: 206: 205:The Leftovers 201: 197: 196:Academy Award 193: 189: 185: 181: 180:Academy Award 177: 176: 171: 170: 165: 156: 149: 144: 140: 136: 117: 113: 109: 105: 101: 97: 92: 88: 85: 81: 74: 71: 70: 68: 64: 60: 55:(age 63) 45: 41: 34: 29: 22: 19: 1295:Sarah Polley 1289:Jane Campion 1226:Tony Kushner 1210:Aaron Sorkin 1200:Wes Anderson 1194:Peter Morgan 1188:Sarah Polley 1182:Tom Perrotta 1181: 1128: 1117:Tom Perrotta 1079: 1072: 1063: 1053: 1034: 1021: 1002: 985: 980:, Dec. 2007. 950: 943:Literary Hub 934: 922:. Retrieved 916: 904: 885: 838:. Retrieved 827: 806: 798: 765: 758:. Retrieved 754:the original 749:L'Uomo Vogue 747: 737: 703: 696:. Retrieved 692:The Guardian 690: 649:Nine Inches 648: 642: 602: 594: 586: 578: 570: 564: 556: 550: 540:Bibliography 527: 512: 506: 499: 492: 482: 478: 475:culture wars 468: 466: 445: 435: 429: 415: 405: 399: 389: 383: 379: 378: 371: 367: 363: 361: 340: 336: 322: 318: 314: 304: 302: 290: 286:Tobias Wolff 261: 223: 203: 187: 184:film version 173: 167: 163: 162: 110:1988–present 75:screenwriter 25:Tom Perrotta 18: 1323:1961 births 1256:James Ivory 1244:Nick Hornby 1232:John Ridley 924:January 31, 565:Joe College 368:Joe College 254:John Irving 172:(1998) and 153:tomperrotta 1317:Categories 1178:Todd Field 669:References 362:Following 192:Todd Field 66:Occupation 49:1961-08-13 1267:Spike Lee 1130:The Forum 532:, into a 444:. Titled 440:producer 220:Biography 210:TV series 83:Education 1042:Archived 1010:Archived 958:Archived 893:Archived 875:Archived 834:Archived 558:Election 518:into an 391:Newsweek 364:Election 341:Election 306:Election 246:O. Henry 238:Avellino 169:Election 138:Children 72:Novelist 840:May 15, 767:States. 507:He and 437:Frasier 412:Chekhov 270:English 146:Website 132:​ 124:​ 1303:(2023) 1297:(2022) 1291:(2021) 1285:(2020) 1275:(2019) 1269:(2018) 1258:(2017) 1252:(2016) 1246:(2015) 1240:(2014) 1234:(2013) 1228:(2012) 1222:(2011) 1212:(2010) 1206:(2009) 1196:(2008) 1190:(2007) 1184:(2006) 1087:  664:(2007) 656:Essays 651:(2013) 645:(1994) 607:(2022) 599:(2017) 591:(2011) 583:(2007) 575:(2004) 567:(2000) 561:(1998) 553:(1997) 545:Novels 416:People 401:People 398:, and 321:which 299:Career 262:Pariah 252:, and 115:Spouse 107:Period 61:, U.S. 462:Maine 272:from 190:with 126:( 122: 1281:and 1265:and 1218:and 1202:and 1180:and 1121:IMDb 1085:ISBN 926:2022 842:2021 762:2013 700:2013 423:and 355:and 278:M.A. 266:B.A. 155:.net 43:Born 1119:at 520:HBO 452:in 268:in 214:HBO 212:on 186:of 1319:: 1083:. 1062:. 993:, 969:^ 941:, 915:. 869:, 850:^ 832:. 826:. 814:^ 805:, 789:, 774:^ 764:. 746:. 728:, 711:^ 702:. 689:. 677:^ 497:. 464:. 427:. 394:, 388:, 248:, 216:. 128:m. 100:MA 91:BA 51:) 1159:e 1152:t 1145:v 1093:. 1066:. 928:. 844:. 516:, 141:2 102:) 98:( 93:) 89:( 47:(

Index

Perrotta in 2007
Newark, New Jersey
Yale University
BA
Syracuse University
MA
tomperrotta.net
Election
Little Children
Academy Award
film version
Todd Field
Academy Award
Best Adapted Screenplay
The Leftovers
TV series
HBO
Summit, New Jersey
Garwood, New Jersey
Roman Catholic
Avellino
Albanian-Italian
O. Henry
J. R. R. Tolkien
John Irving
David Brearley High School
B.A.
English
Yale University
M.A.

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