About the Book
What if you were supposed to die, but you didn't? And what if, years later, your precious second chance didn't turn out anything like you thought it would? That's the journey Evan Handler experiences, and the one he explores in It's Only Temporary: The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive. In a collection of funny, offbeat, and poignant autobiographical essays, Handler moves beyond the supposedly "incurable" illness he triumphed over in his mid-twenties--only to tumble through his thirties and forties in search of ever elusive love and happiness. From bold attempts to rekindle his acting career to hapless efforts to run faster around New York's Central Park reservoir, from bizarre Internet dates to twenty-seven breakups (involving only ten women), Handler careens through his against-all-odds existence. Always searching for meaning in his unlikely survival, he shares stories of sadistic junior high school gym teachers, bullying wannabe Hollywood moguls, returned engagement rings, and Europeans' fascination with American bathroom habits.
Picking up ten years after his first book, Time on Fire, Handler again uses what the New York Times calls his "laceratingly funny and revealing" storytelling skills to weave twenty-one new tales into a defiantly unconventional memoir. Consistently witty and insightful, Handler's stories shift effortlessly from the comedic to the profound, musing with equal intensity on the existence of God and his experiences with TV stardom. Then, just when it seems he's failed to make the most of his astonishing second chance, Handler finds his way to miracles even greater than the ones that saved his life. His memoir describes his journey from darkness to light, from yearning to gratitude, and in so doing succeeds as both a stirring love story and a classic coming-of-age tale. It's Only Temporary celebrates the transformation of a boy to man-even if it look Handler more than forty years to get there.
Review :
?In "It's Only Temporary," Evan Handler confronts the ambiguities of life backward, forward, and in between. With hilarious honesty he reflects on the realization that we can start over again. "It's Only Temporary" is a heartfelt book for all of us who are getting younger and older at the same time.?
?Amy Tan, author of "The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetter's Daughter, " and "The Kitchen God's Wife"
?In a series of wonderful essays, Evan Handler gives himself up to us - warts and all. To our amusement and bemusement we share in his emotional growth as he struggles to mature. I not only laughed along with him but felt that I too had grown a little along the way. Who could ask for more
?Lewis Black, comedian, "Daily Show" correspondent, and author of "Nothing's Sacred"
?Evan Handler's new book is simply wonderful. He pulls you inside his life, and you come out his very close friend.?
?Neil Simon, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright/screenwriter of "Lost In Yonke
aIn "It's Only Temporary," Evan Handler confronts the ambiguities of life backward, forward, and in between. With hilarious honesty he reflects on the realization that we can start over again. "It's Only Temporary" is a heartfelt book for all of us who are getting younger and older at the same time.a
aAmy Tan, author of "The Joy Luck Club, The Bonesetteras Daughter," and "The Kitchen Godas Wife"
aIn a series of wonderful essays, Evan Handler gives himself up to us - warts and all. To our amusement and bemusement we share in his emotional growth as he struggles to mature. I not only laughed along with him but felt that I too had grown a little along the way. Who could ask for more?a
aLewis Black, comedian, "Daily Show" correspondent, and author of "Nothing's Sacred"
aEvan Handler's new book is simply wonderful. He pulls you inside his life, and you come out his very close friend.a
aNeil Simon, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright/screenwriter of "Lost In Yonkers, The Odd Couple, Brighton Beach Memoirs," and "The Goodbye Girl"
aEvan Handler is a man whoas looked into the abyss and laughed. His book, "Itas Only Temporary," made me laugh along with him. He covers love, lust, showbiz, triumph, and despair a and he manages to be both funny and inspiring about all of it. Itas an important book that I think can help to spread goodness around the world. Something we desperately need.a
aLance Armstrong, seven time Tour de France Champion; Founder, The Lance Armstrong Foundation
aEvan Handler is not only a fine actor, heas a damn good writer. "Itas Only Temporary" is wise and funny and as righteously indignant as it is endearingly self-effacing. In what may be aliterary first, the book actually left me wanting more.a
aMeghan Daum, author of "My Misspent Youth" and "The Quality of Life Report"
aEvan Handler's unsparingly honest stories about life, love, and his own shortcomings are hilarious to read and oh, so easy (and fun!) to relate to. By the end you will be left with the surprising but unmistakable feelings of hope and redemption. "Itas Only Temporary" is truly an inspiration, particularly for anyone who's out there looking for love.a
aLiz Tuccillo, co-author of "Heas Just Not That Into You"
aChange is good - thatas the credo Evan Handler reinvigorates with the hard won wisdom of this hard luck story. Handleras prose style is disarmingly funny and smoothly conversational. He writes like a guy who's just happy to be here, and a little pissed off at you if you're not. As he has worked hard to shape himself into a good actor, life has shaped him into a good man. The cover photo is worth the price alone.a
aDavid Duchovny, actor, director, screenwriter
