Andrew Gross is an old friend of Bookhampton’s, having participated in the first two of our “Mayhem” mystery festivals, and we were delighted that he came to the East Hampton store for his first solo reading on Saturday afternoon. The subject was his book Eyes Wide Open (William Morrow), just published to ecstatic reviews last week, and surely destined to be a huge best-seller. Mr. Gross explained that this book was particularly intense and meaningful for him because it involves and is based on a family story, the story of his uncle, who went off to California in the 60’s to join a dangerous cult, and of his nephew—that uncle’s son—who committed suicide a couple of years ago.
He read two sections from the book and answered a number of questions from the audience, all the while sharing with us this aspect of the story of his own family. He stressed that the book “is still a thriller” and that he hoped it would be enjoyed without reference to the dark family story, while acknowledging the cathartic experience of writing it and the fact that its background gave it an intensity for him that was quite different from what he experienced in writing his other books.
All of those present were thrilled at the quality of the writing in the sections Mr. Gross read and at his honesty and integrity in assimilating the family story into his artistic work. We hope that he will continue to be a regular visitor to BookHampton.
— Jeremy Nussbaum
Books by Andrew Gross are available from our website,
along with signed copies of Eyes Wide Open.
