Cynthia Weiner, A GORGEOUS EXCITEMENT: A Novel - Totally Booked with Zibby

Summary

Podcast Title: Totally Booked with Zibby
Host: Zibby Owens
Episode: Cynthia Weiner, A Gorgeous Excitement: A Novel
Release Date: February 18, 2025

1. Introduction

In this episode of Totally Booked with Zibby, host Zibby Owens welcomes Cynthia Weiner, the acclaimed author of A Gorgeous Excitement. Zibby praises Cynthia’s work, expressing her enthusiasm with, “I read every word, bated breath. Loved, loved, loved” (00:00).

2. Inspiration and Background of the Novel

Cynthia delves into the inspiration behind A Gorgeous Excitement, drawing from the infamous 1986 preppy murder in New York City. She explains, “The story is inspired... by the 1986 preppy murder in New York City when an 18-year-old Jennifer Levin was strangled to death in Central Park” (02:21). The novel is a work of fiction centered around Nina Jacobs, an insecure 18-year-old navigating her tumultuous summer in the Upper East Side.

3. Themes and Character Relationships

The conversation shifts to the novel’s thematic elements and character dynamics. Cynthia outlines three interweaving storylines: Nina’s pursuit of losing her virginity, her mother's struggle with depression and electroshock therapy, and Nina’s descent into cocaine use after befriending Stephanie. She states, “the story was about that kind of exhilaration... and the darker side of it, as exhilaration goes higher and higher” (06:48). Zibby highlights the novel’s cinematic quality, noting, “It's written in such a cinematic way” (04:03).

4. Personal Reflections and Connections

Both hosts reflect on their personal experiences related to the novel’s themes. Cynthia shares, “I grew up in that kind of world... I gave myself the middle name of Lifton, which was my mother's maiden name. But it didn't quite have the same cachet” (12:36), illustrating her feelings of being an outsider. Zibby relates by recounting her own experiences as one of few Jewish girls in her grade school, emphasizing the universal struggle of feeling separate and self-conscious during youth.

5. Writing Process and Challenges

Cynthia discusses the lengthy and challenging process of writing her novel. She reveals, “It took me about nine years... I didn't really know how to write a novel” (14:08). Cynthia emphasizes the evolution of her story, particularly how the identity of the victim changed during the writing process, which significantly altered the narrative’s direction.

6. Takeaways for Readers

When asked about the intended impact of her book, Cynthia emphasizes themes of listening and self-awareness. She mentions, “Nina sees things, and yet she justifies everything... that's one thing that I kind of did a lot when I was young” (16:00). She hopes readers will recognize the importance of self-listening and understanding the complexities of assertiveness and confidence in young women.

7. Current Reads and Recommendations

Cynthia shares her literary interests, expressing a preference for short stories and praising authors such as Joyce Carol Oates and Ottessa Moshfegh. She mentions, “I love young women writers who are sort of... very sympathetic voice” (17:30). Her recommendations include Play World by Adam Ross, Entitlement by Rumaan Alam, and Luster by Raven Leilani, among others.

8. Advice for Aspiring Authors

Cynthia offers heartfelt advice to budding writers, encouraging perseverance and the importance of a supportive audience. She advises, “Just go and sit there and... keep working at it” (18:42). Cynthia shares a personal anecdote about a friend’s encouragement, highlighting the value of writing for those who genuinely appreciate your voice rather than striving to please everyone.

9. Closing Thoughts

Zibby commends Cynthia’s storytelling prowess, remarking on the vividness and emotional depth of her characters: “This should be a play or a movie because it is so visual and so clear and emotional” (20:19). Cynthia reciprocates the praise, expressing her admiration for Zibby’s work and the impact of her own writing journey.

Notable Quotes

Zibby Owens (00:00): “I read every word, bated breath. Loved, loved, loved.”
Cynthia Weiner (02:21): “The story is inspired... by the 1986 preppy murder in New York City...”
Cynthia Weiner (06:48): “the story was about that kind of exhilaration... and the darker side of it, as exhilaration goes higher and higher.”
Cynthia Weiner (12:36): “I gave myself the middle name of Lifton... But it didn't quite have the same cachet.”
Cynthia Weiner (16:00): “Nina sees things, and yet she justifies everything...”
Cynthia Weiner (18:42): “Just go and sit there and... keep working at it.”
Zibby Owens (20:19): “This should be a play or a movie because it is so visual and so clear and emotional.”

Conclusion

This episode offers a deep dive into Cynthia Weiner’s A Gorgeous Excitement, exploring its inspirations, themes, and the intricate process behind its creation. Through candid discussions, both hosts and guests reflect on personal experiences, literary influences, and the universal challenges of growing up and finding one’s voice. Aspiring authors gain valuable insights into the perseverance required in writing, while listeners are encouraged to empathize with the nuanced characters and their journeys.

For more information about Zibby Owens and her curated book selections, visit zibbymedia.com and follow her on Instagram @zibbyowens.

Timestamp Reference

All timestamps correspond to points in the provided transcript where notable quotes or significant discussions occur.

Transcript

A (0:00)

The recent fire in LA destroyed many schools in the Pacific Palisades area where we have our home. I am currently raising money to completely rebuild the library collections of four schools in the neighborhood. If you are interested in helping me raise up to $800,000 to restock the libraries, go to zivimedia.com donate one book donate a thousand books but please help imagine if this was your school or your kids school. Thank you. Hi, this is Zibby Owens and you're listening to Totally Booked with Zibby, formerly Moms don't have Time to Read Books. In my daily show, I interview today's latest best selling buzziest or underrated authors and story creators whose work I think is worth your time. As a bookstore owner, publisher, author and obviously podcaster, I get a comprehensive look at everything that's coming out and spend my time curating the best books so you don't have to stay in the know. Get insider insights and connect with guests like I do every single day. For more information, go to zibbedia.com and follow me on Instagram ibyoans Cynthia Weiner is the author of A Gorgeous Excitement, a novel A Circle. Cynthia has had a long career writing and teaching fiction. Her short stories have been published in Ploughshares, the Sun and Epiphany, and her story Boyfriends was awarded a Pushcart Prize. She is also the assistant director of the writer Studio in New York City. A Gorgeous Excitement, her first novel was inspired by her upbringing on New York's Upper east side in the 1980s and particularly by the notorious preppy murder of 1986. She lives in New York's Hudson Valley. Welcome Cynthia. Thank you so much for coming on Totally Booked with Zibby to talk about A Gorgeous Excitement, which I loved. Oh my go so good. Thank you for writing this. I read every word, bated breath. Loved, loved, loved. Thank you.

B (1:56)

Thank you for having me. Cynthia, it's so such an honor to be here with you.

A (2:01)

I remember the whole preppy murder so well. I remember where I was like all of it, like hearing about it. I was actually at Hebrew school and I remember sitting in the chair and being like, what happened? Anyway, let's back up. Sorry I had to jump in there but talk about where the story came from, what it's based on, all the stuff, the backstory and what it's about.

B (2:21)

Of course. Yes. So the story is inspired, as you alluded to, by the 1986 preppy murder in New York City when an 18 year old Jennifer Levin and we can get into this. A young Jewish girl actually was strangled to death in Central park during a hookup with preppy, very handsome it boy Robert Chambers. But the novel is fiction and it follows a bright but very insecure 18 year old girl during the summer of. The summer of 1986. Her name is Nina Jacobs and she's living with her father and profoundly depressed and very volatile mother on the very WASPy Upper east side of Manhattan. And she's desperate to lose her virginity before she starts college and also desperate to save her mother from kind of last ditch electroshock therapy. And at the start of the summer, she meets this Upper east side legend who I've called Gardner Reed at a very popular preppy bar one night she falls for him. She also makes a new friend who introduces her to cocaine and at the same time her mother starts a new medication. So there's sort of these three interweaving storylines and as the summer goes on, sort of everybody spirals out of control and, you know, sort of oblivious to where they're headed, the danger they're headed into. Yeah.