POP CULTURE
As a beauty editor at Lucky Magazine by day and pillpopper by night, for years Cat Marnell managed to keep one massive secret: she was a prescription drug addict, insomniac and bulimic. Detailing her promiscuous adventures from prep school to Condé Nast to the seediest of clubs, Marnell resuscitates her story in How to Murder Your Life with the same honesty and humour she used to get through it – which should make for a one-sitting read.
One Day We’ll All Be Dead and None of This Will Matter by Scaachi Koul ( Doubleday Canada, 256; $ 25) – Mar. 7
Toronto journalist and Buzzfeeder Scaachi Koul has carved a niche for herself as a uniquely outspoken social critic. As a writer of colour, her collection of essays offers her usual derisive wit and sharp take on a life caught between Western and Indian cultures, not just as a woman, but as someone keenly aware enough to know that the world is an outrage and we’re just living in it.
Nevertheless: A Memoir by Alec Baldwin ( Harper, 288 pp; $ 35.99) – Apr. 4
As a polarizing personality, Baldwin has always been magnetic, whether through his PR scandals or his grade A resume ( Glengarry Glen Ross, Beetlej uice, The Departed and, of course, 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live). He’s always man- aged to float j ust above the gossip with a charming wit and hubris, but his memoir may finally reveal what exactly is underneath. And if sharing an i ntimate memoir strikes you as a potentially risky career move on Baldwin’s part, as Jack Donaghy would say, “There are no bad ideas. Only great ideas that go horribly wrong.”
When You Find Out the World Is Against You: And Other Funny Memories About Awful Moments by Kelly Oxford ( HarperCollins, 320 pp; $ 29.99) – Apr. 18
“Twitter celebrity” may seem like an irredeemable title to cling to, but it’s a smart platform for Oxford’s witty commentary on life and her hilarious family, and for speaking up for those who can’t ( Oxford started the # notokay trend to support survivors of sexual assault after Donald Trump’s flagrant comments). With a sitcom currently in the works, Oxford’s book explores her favourite subject: “the sheer insanity of being in charge of the safety and livelihood of three people besides myself.” In fact, her seven- yearold daughter Bea may just give her a run for her money. “7yr old: Do women get their periods on weekends too? Me: Yes. 7yr old mutters to herself: Jesus Christ.”
The Life You Want by Oprah Winfrey ( Flatiron Books, publication details TBD)
With her long-awaited and “definitive” memoir – which reportedly came at an eight-figure advance – set for release in 2017, Oprah plans to detail her rise to success, but including all the “painful experiences” along the way (with the intent to inspire, naturally). For the closely guarded queen of television, expectations are high, guaranteeing a bestseller.