Former General Hospital star Amber Tamblyn has a new title: author. The actress is releasing her first novel, Any Man, a provocative account of rape culture, the experience of trauma, and the uplifting of victims and their stories. What may take readers by surprise is that the victims in Any Man are men.
According the publisher, the book focuses on a violent serial rapist named Maude. "She hunts for men at bars, online, at home -- the place doesn't matter, neither does the man. Her victims then must live the aftermath of their assault in the form of doubt from the police, feelings of shame, alienation from their friends and family, and the haunting of a horrible woman who becomes the phantom on which society projects its greatest fears, fascinations, and even misogyny. All the while the police are without leads and the media hound the victims, publicly dissecting the details of their attack"
As the novel progresses, it shows how the men learn to heal and find a space to raise their voices. The story is told in alternating viewpoints, and the accounts range from horror to breathtaking empathy.
In October 2016, Tamblyn opened up about a past abusive relationship and sexual assault.
"I need to tell you a story. With the love and support of my husband [comedian David Cross], I've decided to share it publicly," she begins. "A very long time ago I ended a long emotionally and physically abusive relationship with a man I had been with for some time. Without going into all the of the details, I will tell you that my ex did show up [one night when I was at a club with a friend], and came up to me in the crowd. He's a big guy, taller than me. The minute he saw me, he picked me up with one hand by my hair and with his other hand, he grabbed me under my skirt by my vagina and lifted me up off the floor, literally, and carried me, like something he owned, like a piece of trash, out of the club."
Any Man will be released on June 26. You can preorder a copy of Any Man here.
That same day, Tamblyn will be joined by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor, who helped break the Harvey Weinstein story, at a book reading and discussion at the 92nd Street Y's Buttenwieser Hall in New York City. More information and a link to purchase tickets can be found here.
Join us Jun 26 for a talk w/2 trailblazing voices of the #MeToo movement: #TimesUp founding member @ambertamblyn & Pulitzer-winning @nytimes reporter @jodikantor, who helped break the Weinstein story. It's the launch event for Amber's book "Any Man." Tix: https://t.co/wXfePfXqSM pic.twitter.com/pqeNTUA3Jg
— 92nd Street Y (@92Y) May 25, 2018
Amber Tamblyn has been nominated for Emmy, Golden Globe, and Independent Spirit awards. She has published two books of poetry. She appeared as Emily Quartermaine on General Hospital from January 1995 to July 2001.
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