The Blondes is a satirical horror novel by Emily Schultz that was published in 2012 by St. Martin's Press. The novel was later adapted into a television series and podcast of the same name.

Background

The idea for the book came about while Schultz was reading Vanity Fair and saw a Gucci advertisement filled with rabid looking blondes.[1][2] The book's protagonist is Hazel Hayes, a graduate student who finds out that she is pregnant after an affair with her professor.[3] Shortly after discovering that she is pregnant a pandemic begins that only effects women with blonde hair.[4] The story is told as a retrospective narration to Hayes's unborn child.[5]

Reception

The reviews for the book were mixed. Publishers Weekly's review notes that not all readers will agree with the underlying assumption "that women only matter when they're dangerous."[6] A review in Kirkus Reviews praised the book for its dark satire and the ambiguous metaphor of the disease.[7] A review written by Isabella Biedenharn in Entertainment Weekly, criticized the book for trying too hard which leads to a boring read.[8] In a Booklist review, Donna Seaman writes that "Schultz sharply addresses a slew of social failings ... in this ferociously clever, exceedingly well written variation on the pandemic novel".[9] The book was a 2013 Trillium Book Award finalist.[10][11]

Adaptations

In June 2017, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that The Blondes would be among the first series to premiere on AMC Networks' Shudder streaming service.[12][13]

In 2019, Schultz regained the rights and collaborated with executive producer Duncan Birmingham along with directors Brian Joseph Davis and Jenny Grace to create a podcast that drew on the novel.[14] The scripted podcast based on the novel was released on July 8, 2019, and starred Madeline Zima, Robert Belushi, Helen Hong, Dana Berger, and Cecilia Corrigan. In 2020, it was announced that the European podcast network, Sybel, will produce French and Spanish language versions of The Blondes podcast.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Clark, Leilani (May 10, 2015). "Blonde Apocalypse: Emily Schultz Puts a New Spin on the Plague Tale". KQED. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  2. ↑ Quill, Greg (August 23, 2012). "The Blondes author Emily Schultz: Interview". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ Charles, Ron (April 9, 2023). "The world has a really bad hair day in 'The Blondes'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  4. ↑ Snyder, Carrie (August 17, 2012). "'Blonde Fury': When blondes go mad, bad and dangerous to know". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ↑ Posted, Jill Wilson (August 18, 2012). "Aug 2012: Opinion: Look out! There's a blond woman behind you!". Winnipeg Free Press. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Blondes by Emily Schultz". Publishers Weekly. February 16, 2015. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  7. ↑ "A nail-biter that is equal parts suspense, science fiction, and a funny, dark sendup of the stranglehold of gender". Kirkus Reviews. February 1, 2015. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  8. ↑ Biedenharn, Isabella (May 1, 2015). "'The Blondes' by Emily Schultz: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  9. ↑ Seaman, Donna (March 15, 2015). "The Blondes by Emily Schultz". Booklist. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  10. ↑ "Finalists – 2013 Trillium Book Award". Ontario Media Development Corporation. 2013. Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  11. ↑ "The Trillium Conversations: Steven Heighton and Emily Schultz". National Post. June 17, 2013. Retrieved January 14, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "AMC Networks' Streaming Service Shudder Launches Original Programming With 'Primal Screen' Doc (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 2, 2017. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ van Koeverden, Jane (June 13, 2017). "Adaptation of Emily Schultz's The Blondes in development for AMC's streaming service". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on January 13, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "5 Reasons We're Excited For 'The Blondes' Podcast!". Villain Media. June 12, 2019. Archived from the original on June 13, 2019. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  15. ↑ "Sybel Acquires French and Spanish Language Rights to The Blondes Podcast". Heroic Collective. Archived from the original on June 4, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
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