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I, California

A Memoir

By Stacey Grenrock Woods

Hilarious. Smart. Bitter. Sweet. Self-deprecating. Stacey Grenrock Woods. Experience with her the stirring joys of receiving a Peter Frampton poster for Hanukkah, sitting for a head-shot photo session as a child actress, waitressing Pan-Asian fusion cuisine, having musicians for boyfriends, humiliating people on The Daily Show, and waiting for prescription drugs. Oh, the waiting.

From the idyllic sprout-and-yogurt San Fernando seventies; to the idyllic painter's-cap-and-bandanna eighties; to the idyllic, heroin-clouded Viper Room nineties; to the idyllic Botox-infused present, Stacey Grenrock Woods has experienced a prototypically Southern California life on the margins of fame, which is roughly the equivalent of a prototypical American life, isn't it?
Photo Credit:
Stacey Grenrock Woods

Stacey Grenrock Woods was born in a hospital on Ventura Boulevard. After a brief child-acting career (during which she met both Ricky Schroder and Jason Bateman), she worked in record stores, posed for a Playboy centerfold that was never published, was an usherette at Universal Studios Theme Park, and dropped out of college. She has been a Daily Show correspondent and played a recurring character on Arrested Development. Stacey is now a contributing editor for Esquire, where she writes a monthly sex column, and she has published articles in Allure; O, The Oprah Magazine; and the Utne Reader, among many other magazines. Really, lots.

"With nothing more than working knowledge of a keyboard, Stacey Grenrock Woods has triumphed! I am humbled by her intellect, her grace, her wit, and her patriotism. Also, the nude scenes are quite good."

-- Stephen Colbert

"As I read this book I laughed, I cried, and shouted out, 'Oooh, I've thought that!' but I could never have written it down as brilliantly as Stacey Grenrock Woods. A truly funny girl who has posed for Playboy -- yes, one exists."

-- Tracey Ullman

"Funny and brilliant. I loved every word of it, especially words like 'eczema' and 'greatcoat.' Stacey Grenrock Woods has such an original voice. California is lucky to have her. They should name a stretch of highway after her or something."

-- A. J. Jacobs, author of The Know-It-All

"Sunny heartbreak, with sarcasm that draws blood."
-Kirkus Reviews

I, California

A Memoir

By Stacey Grenrock Woods