Laura Dave Talks About "The First Husband"

We seem to devour Laura Dave’s books around here faster than she can write them so we were thrilled when she sent us a copy of her latest, The First Husband. Once again, she’s written a page-turner about our favorite subject — love. Don’t let the fact that her novels are so readable fool you, though. They’re also rich and thought-provoking, and always make us wonder what we would do in the same situation. In this story, Annie is a travel writer who lives — when she’s home — with her boyfriend Nick in Los Angeles. When Nick tells her he needs a break, she finds herself moving to small-town Massachusetts with a chef named Griffin. Of course, Nick finally comes to his sense and realizes he’s made a mistake. Is it too late? Who will Annie choose?  I had so much to ask Laura about The First Husband! Here’s what she had to say:

I always have to put aside a whole day when I start a new book of yours because I know I won’t be able to put it down! With this one, I was hooked from the first page when Annie talks about Roman Holiday as “a bomb I was about to detonate right into the middle of my life.” Laura, you may change how generations of women feel about their favorite movie! Why did you choose Roman Holiday as the sign of impending doom for Annie? Do you have any superstitions of your own?

Thank you so much. That is such a lovely compliment! And Roman Holiday is one of my favorites too.  Even after writing the book, I’d never turn on it.  There were just so many reasons that it made sense to choose it as Annie’s unlucky film.  For one thing, Roman Holiday is the ultimate romantic movie, full of hope and fantasy.  I liked the idea that someone could associate such a sweet story — starring Audrey Hepburn at her loveable best — with such turmoil.  There is also a thematic connection: Annie and Hepburn’s character in the movie both ostensibly think they want to escape from their lives.  But when you look deeper, they are each actually looking for the opposite of escape — they are looking for love and belonging.  I wanted to highlight that connection.

And, yes, I do have a real-life bad luck movie: All The Presidents Men. I love that movie — I’m a sucker for a thriller, especially one rooted in politics or crime or journalism. (The Insider and The Fugitive are also on top of my list!) And I simply love the excitement of watching Woodward and Bernstein realize the magnitude of the crime they’ve uncovered. Not to mention that Redford and Hoffman are amazing in the roles. But, like Annie, as much as I love the movie, I will run out of the room if ever it comes on. As for why it brings me bad luck, I’m not sure! I’m not sure if it even really does. But I feel like every time I watch it, something happens shortly thereafter: I get bad news, a car breaks down, etc. Silly things. But they add up to me not wanting to watch it. I still love it, though!

Your novels always evoke such a strong sense of place. In The Divorce Party, I felt like I was right in the middle of Montauk, which is one of my favorite places. In The First Husband, I love that you take Annie from Los Angeles to Williamsburg, Massachusetts, and she has to keep correcting everyone that it’s not Williamstown – which is not some huge city itself. Can you talk a little about the importance of place in your books, and why you planted Annie in Williamsburg?

Place is huge for me. I especially like to write about towns perched on the end of the world — Montauk, Narragansett, Williamsburg. They require something different of their inhabitants. Living in a city there are so many distractions, so many ways to avoid knowing what is really going on inside of you, inside of your closest relationships. But the quiet (and noise) of a small town requires an attention to one’s own life that I’m really interested in exploring.

In terms of planting Annie in Williamsburg, I had a variety of reasons.  Primarily, after all of the exotic and adventurous places Annie explored throughout her adult life, I loved the idea that her biggest adventure was awaiting her in this small town.  I wanted her to realize that the greatest journey we all get to take is the one that moves us closer to knowing ourselves. Williamsburg helps her make this discovery.

We know which is harder in real life but which is more challenging to write — a good meeting scene or a good breakup scene? Which is more fun to write? 

I love this question.  I think writing a good meeting scene is both more challenging to write and also more fun to write than a breakup scene.  You’re setting up the dynamic of how two characters think about each other — often your most important characters.  And you’re laying the foundation for readers to root for a couple finding happily ever after together.  Every beat counts in a meeting scene.  Every beat moves the reader closer to seeing why these characters belong together.

The meeting scene in The First Husband proved to be particularly challenging and particularly fun because so much was riding on it.  I really enjoyed watching Annie fall for Griffin a moment before she knew it was happening.

In the book, Annie is a travel writer and she offers lots of great insider tips about destinations all over the world. Have you been to all the places she writes about? Should we really “consider heading down to the ferry on the Jacques-Cartier Pier” next time we’re in Montreal?

Absolutely, you should consider it. I haven’t been to all of the destinations that Annie’s explored — though I’d like to go.  But many of the places I do recommend from personal experience.  Don Alfonso 1890 at Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, as an example, was one of the most extraordinary dining experiences of my life.  You should go there immediately — and take me.

I am enthralled with anything about homes, so I could totally relate to Annie’s obsession with taking photographs of houses wherever she visits. I would buy a book of her pictures in a second! Is that personally meaningful to you, as well, or is it strictly Annie’s thing? 

Like Annie — and you! — I’ve always been interested in houses.  Even when I’m visiting faraway countries, I’m more interested in how people are living their lives in a given place than in visiting any of the tourist attractions I’m supposed to hurry to see.  Houses — the way we care for them, the choices we make for them — say so much about how we think of our home life and the importance of family. I loved exploring that connection in The First Husband.

One of my favorite moments in the book is when Griffin tells Annie the “Pop Rocks” story about how, as children, he and his brother got to pick one candy when they went shopping with their mom. His brother always knew immediately what he wanted while Griffin spent so much time choosing, time would be up and he’d end up leaving with something he didn’t even like. Are you more like Griffin or his brother? 

I like to think I used to be more like Griffin and I’m learning to be more like Jesse — at least in this way.

I love how much care Griffin puts into the playlist for his restaurant because I think you can tell so much about someone from their music choices. I would definitely be eating there because he’s playing Van Morrison, Springsteen, Leonard Cohen – it’s like he took my iPod! And, by the way, thank you for introducing me to Neutral Milk Hotel – beautiful. What does music mean to you, and what songs make up the soundtrack of your life? 

Music means so much to me and has such a large effect on how I approach my work.  When people ask me about writers who inspire me, I always list musicians and singer-songwriters. The Avett Brothers, as an example, had a huge influence on The First Husband. 

Your first two books were optioned by Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, respectively. You can’t get much bigger than that! Any news about them? If The First Husband is also optioned – which seems a given – who do you envision in the three key roles?

The movie options are always exciting. We hope to have some good news on The Divorce Party soon.  I’ll keep you posted!  In terms of The First Husband, I’m going to take a shot at adapting it myself, which is very exciting.  In terms of the three key roles, I have a few ideas but I’m certainly open to suggestions!

Does your husband ever worry when he reads titles like The Divorce Party and The First Husband?!

He’s actually my fiancé, which may make him worry even more!  In all seriousness, Josh is a screenwriter (he’s written for such shows as The West Wing, Law and Order SVU, and Fringe) and he is now writing movies.  He understands that I’m writing about issues that are emotionally relevant — how do we commit in a world where that is increasingly difficult; how do we build a life we are proud of — but certainly aren’t about us. I also take great pains to respect my personal life — and that of my friends and family. The alternative makes the line between art and life too close for my comfort.

What’s next for you? No pressure, but have you started a new novel? We can’t wait! 

I have started a new novel, which I’m enjoying so much.  And it is moving along fast, which I’m thrilled about! I hope to have a working draft by Christmas.