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Edwards' Mistress Rielle Hunter the Model for Character in Gen-X Lit

August 09, 2008 10:35 AM

This may only be of interest to Gen-Xers or fans of the literary brat pack in the 1990s, but it turns out that a fictitious character based on Rielle Hunter, the former mistress of Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., has been making its way through several novels.

Author Jay McInerney told the New York Post that Alison Poole, the protagonist of his 1988 novel “Story of My Life,” was based on Hunter, whom he dated for a few months in the 1980s back when she was Lisa Druck.

"She's a nice girl," McInerney told the Post’s Page Six. "She used to be a real party girl. When she wasn't out at nightclubs, she was taking acting classes. We dated for only a few months, but in that period, I spent a lot of time with her and her friends, whose behavior intrigued and appalled me to such an extent that I ended up basing a novel on the experience. It was narrated in the first person from the point of view of an ostensibly jaded, sexually voracious 20-year-old who was inspired by Lisa. I certainly thought of Alison Poole as a sympathetic and ultimately endearing character."

Radar magazine has delved back into the book for ostensibly relevant passages about Poole's liaisons with men who have "high-powered jobs" and whose "idea of wild is argyle socks,” including "Most of the guys I know have really high-powered jobs and make up for lost time when they're not in the office. The Berserk After Work Club. I seem to attract them in a big way, all these boys in Paul Stuart suits with six-figure salaries and hellfire on a dimmer switch in their eyes." Poole also said, "Men. I've never met any. They're all boys."

New York magazine notes that Poole has also appeared in novels by McInerney's pal and fellow brat-packer, Bret Easton Ellis, including “American Psycho” and “Glamorama.”

- jpt

August 9, 2008 | Permalink | Share | User Comments (76)

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Yes lets do some real research. About how Obama has done nothing but get a tax payer funded paycheck for over 8 years. Now almost 2 years of a do nothing senator that JUST GAVE A SPEECH> Hillary Clinton

Posted by: dl | Aug 9, 2008 4:25:14 PM

Obama says the FOX news is no good because they are objective and don't get the shivering leg. FOS is the most watched news network.

Posted by: rodney | Aug 9, 2008 4:23:41 PM

"Obama has been under the microscope for 10 months straight..."
-----
But ... ooops ... somebody left the lens cap on.

Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 9, 2008 4:19:01 PM

Lets not forget the JUST WORDS speech that Obama stole and the MEDIA covered for him saying the speech was borrowed.

Same thing the speech was not his and he was never going to tell anybody he was using other peoples speeches

Posted by: dl | Aug 9, 2008 4:17:54 PM

Oh i forgot about the story of Obama and his Rev Wright of over 10 years that Obama had to put a muzzle on until after the election.

Who would think that Democrats would tell a citizen not to speak. It is America and you have freedom of speech. SO REV Wright speak up

Posted by: dl | Aug 9, 2008 4:15:44 PM

dl, dont forget McCain refusing to visit Udall in the veterans hospital without a reporter present.

The double standards of the McMedia are staggering.

Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2008 4:11:00 PM

geevil

If you think the media avoiding a story about salacious affairs is bad ...then why aren't you asking them to investigate Mccain's relationship with Cindy when he left his disfigured wife?

or why are you leaving it there that even though they didn't follow up with a discredited newspaper like the Enquirer...

why is there not that kind of fervency to unearth where the story of mccain's affair came from...

I mean the New york times is a lot more legitimate than the Enquirer (and don't try to spin that one please)

yet you say this shows that the media isn't investigating Obama? are you kidding

McCain's timeline does not work out for when his relationship started with the young blonde millionairess that he left his wheelchair, disfigured older wife for? or the stories of his affair with that actress in the 80's?

please...start making sense...if anyone has not had their personal affairs looked into it is absolutely positively overwhelmingly..

John and Cindy mcCain.

Obama has been under the microscope for 10 months straight...and to say other wise is...

well it's a lie.

this story hurts John Mccain much more than Barack Obama who has no such history like that of John Mccain

how about John's finances...or the paperwork on his health or the details of why Nancy reagan didn't speak with him for years...

the media didn't focus on this because they were trying to not make this a tabloid election...but if the republicans want a tabloid election bring on the starlet, the whhelchair disfigured ex-wife and the blonde bimbetter drug addicted millionairess new wife... and all the rest...from Budweiser and the windfall inheritence to Keating.

Posted by: dl | Aug 9, 2008 4:06:03 PM

The real story here is not really Mr Edwards. But the continuing trend of the MEDIA to continually dropping the ball on investigating Obama and the rest of the Democrats. America is so tired of hearing how the news gets shivers up their legs when ever they see Obama

Posted by: geevill | Aug 9, 2008 3:54:07 PM

The former Lisa Druck doesn't come off as a "sympathetic" or "endearing character" in her interview clips -- meanwhile, the Edwardses aren't dealing with Druck/Hunter in the realm of forgettable fiction.

Meanwhile, of complications in a CHICAGO hospital, Bernie Mac -- who made waves for The CHANGEling a bit ago -- comes up dead at 50.

How many MORE loose ends get snipped, up while The One meets with his masters in Hawaii?

Are the DEMOCRATS going to go for this?

And who sent Druck/Hunter?

Posted by: Belle Starr | Aug 9, 2008 3:51:50 PM

I am confused. Explain to me again what Obama wants to do. I supported him before on the issues before he wanted it BOTH WAYS. He has changed everyday that i forgot every day what he really stood for

Posted by: rodney | Aug 9, 2008 3:47:51 PM

it is funny that you all hold edwards more responsible than you do mccain pres. candidate

Posted by: rodney | Aug 9, 2008 3:43:51 PM

it sure makes one feel good to hear from all the i never did anything wrong people---

Posted by: rodney | Aug 9, 2008 3:40:33 PM

I'm confused, when did this become about McCain, Obama, Bush, Cheney liberals, conservatives, God, atheists, FDR, Lyndon Johnson, the Kennedy’s, the Clintons, Hart, Jesse Jackson, Norma Jean ? Or my personal favorite THE CIA !!!

I hoped this would be more intelligent than the adolescent posts regarding sports.

Posted by: David | Aug 9, 2008 3:37:40 PM

roof top hollar, show me a paper that DOES have journalistic integrity! I'm so sick of the McMedia.

Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2008 3:35:44 PM

The National Enquirer, the paper that all the Obama supporters portray as having no journalistic integrity, teaches the MSM a lesson in reporting with the Edwards/Hunter Story.

Posted by: roof top holler | Aug 9, 2008 3:27:31 PM

How much do you want to bet the Clintons will vote for McCain no matter what they say

Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2008 3:18:23 PM

Dean, Sinclair is a liar, we all know that. The sad thing is that YOU know it as well.

I'd like to see where your birth certificate flap goes. McCain is not a 'natural born citizen', and that is an uncontested fact.

Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2008 3:15:40 PM

I dare anybody to prove the real definition of a natural born citizen. Then show me a real certified copy of Obama's birth certificate.

Come on MAJOR NEWS MEDIA do your job. The National Enquirer is doing a better job at investigative reporting. Prove Obama really is a citizen. We already know McCain is and a HERO

Posted by: Mike | Aug 9, 2008 3:14:09 PM

Another thing you cannot talk about Obama or the MEDIA will say your picking on the SAVIOR. You cannot say Obama is a CELEBRITY even though Obama and his campaign went to great efforts to make him one.. Just ask Oprah THE ONE

Posted by: Manding0 | Aug 9, 2008 3:06:55 PM

Another thing you cannot talk about Obama or the MEDIA will say your picking on the SAVIOR. You cannot say Obama is a CELEBRITY even though Obama and his campaign went to great efforts to make him one.. Just ask Oprah THE ONE

Posted by: Manding0 | Aug 9, 2008 3:05:44 PM

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