Halle Butler (born 1985) is an American author. She grew up in Bloomington, Illinois and lives in Chicago. After co-writing two independent films, Butler published her first novel, Jillian in 2015. Her second novel, The New Me was released in 2019. Butler was recognised as one of Granta’s Best of Young American Novelists and honored as one of the National Book Foundation's 5 Under 35.
Early life and education
editOriginally from Bloomington, Illinois, Butler graduated with a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2008.[1][2] As of 2017, Butler was living in Chicago.[3]
Career
editWhilst working in a succession of menial jobs, Halle Butler co-wrote two independent films, Crimes against Humanity (2014) and Neighborhood Food Drive (2017).[2]
She released her first novel Jillian in 2015. The plot concerns the obsession of 24-year-old Megan with her 35-year-old co-worker Jillian.[4][5]
Butler published her second novel The New Me in 2019. It follows a temporary worker called Millie as she goes from job to job. Writing in The Guardian Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett called it "depressing" and "bleakly funny".[6] Writing for The New Yorker, Jia Tolentino described it as a "definitive work of millennial literature".[7]
Her latest novel, Banal Nightmare, was published in 2024. It follows a 30-something woman who, after a breakup in Chicago, returns to her midwestern hometown.[8][9][10][11][12][13]
Published works
edit- Jillian, Curbside Splendor, 2015. ISBN 978-1940430294
- The New Me, Penguin Books, 2019. ISBN 978-1474612296
- Banal Nightmare, Random House, 2024. ISBN 9780593730355
Awards and honors
edit- Granta’s Best of Young American Novelists of 2017[14]
- National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 Honoree[3][1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Chicago Public Library". Archived from the original on 2018-05-16. Retrieved 2020-10-07.
- ^ a b McNamara, Sylvie (6 March 2019). "What Do Halle Butler's Women Want?". The Cut. Archived from the original on 5 December 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ a b The National Book Foundation’s 5 Under 35, 2017 Archived 2018-05-16 at the Wayback Machine nationalbook.org
- ^ Kathleen Rooney, Review: 'Jillian' by Halle Butler Archived 2018-05-16 at the Wayback Machine Chicago Tribune, February 5, 2015
- ^ REVIEW: Jillian by Halle Butler Archived 2020-10-07 at the Wayback Machine John Thurgood, Electric Literature, January 26, 2015
- ^ Cosslett, Rhiannon Lucy (3 July 2019). "'The New Me' by Halle Butler review – deliciously dark satire of office life". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ Tolentino, Jia (8 April 2019). "Halle Butler's "The New Me" Is an Office Novel for a Precarious Age". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler: 9780593730355 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2024-01-02.
- ^ Niazi, Amil (2024-07-16). "Book Review: 'Banal Nightmare,' by Halle Butler". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Lou, Jo (2024-07-16). "Halle Butler's "Banal Nightmare" is the Feel Bad Novel of the Year". Electric Literature. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Klaces, Caleb (2024-07-20). "Banal Nightmare by Halle Butler review – witty millennial angst". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Franzini, Sam (2024-07-16). "Author Spotlight: Halle Butler, 'Banal Nightmare'". Our Culture. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Burgdorf, Jeannine (2024-07-02). "Naming our existential crises". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
- ^ Best of Young American Novelists of 2017 Archived 2019-09-24 at the Wayback Machine granta.com