For Immediate Release November 21, 2009 PROJECTalphabet¨ presents C is for CHRONIC CITY The much-anticipated new alphabet book inspired by and celebrating Jonathan
LethemÕs Chronic City. It didnÕt seem fair to Jane Hanstein Cunniffe that LethemÕs toddler son not
be able to read his fatherÕs new novel, Chronic City (Doubleday, $27.95). She liked
the book, and had known Lethem twenty years ago, before he was a genius. Cunniffe
thought it screamed for an alphabet. But this time, a drug-free edition. Oona,
Oprah. Hijacked with his blessings. ÒC for Chronic sounds insane and greatÉPlease
do this!!Ó Lethem e-mailed. Because really, what kid
wouldnÕt want to learn to read with a boy from Indiana and a three-legged
pitbull? (Every geek parentÕs dream.) With its broad strokes and bright primary colors, C is for Chronic City puts its
own spin on the story. Sure, thereÕs A is for Ava, B for Books, and C for
Chaldron, but also on-9/11 F is for Fog and Y for Yankees. Lethem fans wonÔt be
disappointed. Nor will anybody else for that matter. The real treat here, is that C is for Chronic City is full of
surprises, taking its own little joyride from Ava to Zelig, imparting an air of
legend and myth to characters–even for people who canÕt keep up with
LethemÕs drunken prose. Sons Eli and Henry appear in S is for Snow Survivor and U is for Upper East
Side. This isnÕt the familyÕs first brush with celebrity. In 2005, ÒThe CrackersÓ celebrated Christo and
Jeanne-ClaudeÕs ÒThe GatesÓ and became an international Internet sensation that
attracted 3 million visitors. In the news again last week, with the recent
death of ChristoÕs other half, Jeanne-Claude. C is for Chronic City is a visual celebration of
LethemÕs Chronic City, featuring photographs by Jane Hanstein Cunniffe. Music
by Chet Baker. See how A. Caslon helped save late night TV. |