Brooklyn Bookbeat: Acclaimed author’s new novel features Justin Bieber-like idol
Whiting Writers’ Award winner TeddyWayne, who has been praised for his inventive humor, is about to release his latest novel. Already receiving widespread praise, “The Love Song of Jonny Valentine” is a witty and frighteningly reflective satire of America’s fixation on fame.
Wayne’s protagonist, Jonny Valentine, is an 11-year-old pop singer, managed by an L.A. label and his hard-partying mother. Idolized for his musical talent and looks, Jonny is successful in a superficial sense. But despite his popularity, he suffers from painful insecurities prompted by his absent father and his transition into adolescence.
Wayne’s novel is filled with apt humor, and his ability to write through the eyes of a child is uncanny. “The Love Song of Jonny Valentine” is at once a ridiculous and familiar exploration of modern American pop culture.
In celebration of the book’s Feb. 5 release, Teddy Wayne will appear at BookCourt for a launch party, reading, audience Q&A and signing on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 7pm.