Maybe he’s been with Larry David too long. In any case, Jeff Garlin — the jovial second banana to David’s finicky lead on HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” — is starting to sound like him. Asked what we can expect on this season, Garlin says, “More of the same, yet different.” Elaborate, please: “I’m still the same, Larry’s the same — and a good portion of it takes place in New York City.” So much for spoilers.
Everyone in the cast, Garlin says, loves to read. “Whenever someone has a free second on the show, they’re reading a book. Reading on the set’s a lot easier with an iPad or Kindle. But I love books — I just bought a bunch in Paris. My wife actually screams at me, ‘No more books!’ I remember being angry when I was asked to turn off my Kindle on a plane. They never ask me to turn off my book!” Here’s what’s in his library.
— Barbara Hoffman
Sandy Koufax
A Lefty’s Legacy
by Jane Leavy
I’m a Chicago Cubs fan — I was born there — and the framing of this book is a perfect game he pitched against the Cubs in Dodger Stadium. I loved Sandy Koufax. In a world where athletes have so little class, he lives his life with dignity. And I love it that the best pitcher of all time was a Jew!
A New Life
by Bernard Malamud
Elliot Gould recommended this; we served on the Screen Actors Guild and talked about it. I just love the idea of someone going off to start a new life and forgetting about the past. In this case, the guy’s an English professor who goes to the Northwest to teach English in what’s mostly a technical college. Life becomes more political than he anticipated, and love comes in unexpected ways.
Born Standing Up
by Steve Martin
I’ve met Martin a few times, but he doesn’t know me from a hole in the ground. To me, this is the best book ever written about being a stand-up comedian — the work that goes into it, the nights of struggling. When I got to the end, I was so sad, because it was over. I love the audiobook of it, too, with him reading it. It’s amazing!
What Makes Sammy Run
by Budd Schulberg
This is actually my favorite book — I’ve read it three or four times. You want to side with a character who has integrity, and that isn’t Sammy — he does anything to get to the top! Schulberg was writing about l920s Hollywood, but it could be about it today. I’ve always made my assistants read it, and they say, “Oh, Sammy isn’t so bad.” That makes me crazy.