Peter Seth is an award-winning director, producer and television writer, but his debut novel, What It Was Like, just may launch him as a name worthy of precious bookshelf space. The story is set in 1968, when an innocent enough love affair blossoms between two summer camp counselors. Hardly a menacing scenario except … well, we'll let the narrator explain. “What happened was this: I met this girl and did a very stupid thing. I fell in love. Hard. I know that to some people that makes me an idiot and a loser. What can I say? They're right. I did some extremely foolish things; I'm the first to say it. And they've left me in jail and alone.” This is how the story begins and essentially ends: unpredictable, undisguised and unapologetic. What It Was Like is already being compared to the best-selling Gone Girl, the Gillian Flynn novel soon to premiere as a film starring Ben Affleck. Seth will discuss his roller coaster of a novel at Book Soup, followed by a signing. And who knows, maybe his book will follow Flynn's and become a star-studded motion picture as well. Book Soup, 8818 W. Sunset Blvd., W. Hlywd.; Mon., Sept. 8, 7 p.m.; free, book is $13.95. (310) 659-3110, booksoup.com.

Mon., Sept. 8, 7 p.m., 2014
(Expired: 09/08/14)

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