This time, Michael Cooper is calling it quits with his publisher, Hyperion, who bought his memoir, Displaced, last summer.
Just months away from publication, Cooper withdrew the finished manuscript. Hyperion is not commenting, but Cooper says he felt the publisher was looking for a different type of book:
“I set out to write about how, in the wake of a devastating and unexpected divorce, I slowly rebuilt my life by redoubling my already decades-long commitment to humanitarian relief and human rights work. In the end, it seemed to me that Hyperion hoped to push the book in a more controversial direction — something I was unwilling to do. I am exploring options with other publishers.”
While we at the Book Case hate to see anyone’s artistic vision thwarted, we also have to say: duh. Millions of Americans have already read a book about someone rebuilding their life in the wake of a devastating and unexpected divorce—it was called Eat, Pray, Love. For anyone to be as interested in Cooper’s journey, he would have to dish some dirt.
Readers, what say you?
Tell it like it is sistah!
I agree. If he wanted to go this route, he should have written his book before his wife’s. I would need a bit of juiciness to get me to read his.
LOL. Something about this situation (and the EPL phenomenon in general) brings out my snarky side.
I had plans to read his book if he avoided talking about his ex. Looks like I get my wish.
Interesting! I suppose it’s never a mistake to take the high road, but since every report of the deal mentioned his connection to Liz Gilbert, his reaction to Hyperion’s request seems a little disingenuous.
I don’t agree. Just because we have Gilbert’s book doesn’t make Cooper’s story about rebuilding his “life in the wake of a devastating and unexpected divorce” pointless without the “dirt.” A male perspective alone makes it worthwhile and even if he went to Italy, India and Indonesia, I doubt he would have a story similar to Gilbert’s.
The book should have been titled ‘Eat Pray Love & Shit’. Its not even chicklit it should find a new category called ‘chickshit’. I find her utterly arrogant, self-indulgent, self-obsessive and a hypocritical prig.These are the very ‘qualities’ that get pedalled in the book as virtues. Attention wh…
I don’t understand why Eat, Pray, Love is the only side of this. That somehow, we’ve already read a book about rebuilding one’s life after a divorce. Michael Cooper’s book would be from a man’s point of view. Men do suffer in divorce, too.