Friendswood (novel)
Friendswood is a 2014 novel by René Steinke. It is about an incident of dumping toxic waste in Friendswood, Texas.[1] Riverhead Books is the publisher.[2] The waste site featured in the book never was located in Friendswood and has never been under the jurisdiction of Friendswood.
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The novel's plot involves a superfund site that is based on the real Brio Superfund site in the South Belt area,[3] located in an unincorporated area in Harris County.[4] The author, who lived in Brooklyn in 2014, originated from and was raised in Friendswood. The author stated that she "wanted to write about the particular textures of Friendswood itself—the Quaker church in the center of town, the humidity and heat, the local Mexican restaurant, the country music I heard so often in the background."[3] She added that "The Friendswood in the novel is fictional. I was more interested in creating the essence of the place than its actual, factual geography."[3]
In 2014 Elizabeth Fowler, Susan Duff, and Dannielle Thomas obtained the rights to make a film version of Friendswood.[2]
References
- Hlavaty, Craig. "Novel with ties to a Houston suburb optioned for film." Houston Chronicle. August 19, 2014. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
- McNary, Dave. "Rene Steinke’s ‘Friendswood’ in the Works as Movie (EXCLUSIVE)." Variety. August 18, 2014. Retrieved on October 6, 2014.
- Gray, Lisa. "Friendswood in fact and fiction." Houston Chronicle. September 26, 2014. PRINT: Monday October 6, 2014. p. D1 - Includes an interview with the author - Embedded image shows address of site as being "11810 South Hill Dr"
- "Dixie Oil Processors Site." Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). p. 4 (4/4). Retrieved on October 7, 2014. "At the Brio Superfund site, located at: 11810 South Hill Drive Houston, TX 77089"
External links
- Steinke, René. 'Not fearful -- because what could touch her now?'" - Sample chapter published by the Houston Chronicle on September 26, 2014.