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The Friday Afternoon Club
The Friday Afternoon Club | Griffin Dunne
5 posts | 8 read | 10 to read
At eight, Sean Connery saved him from drowning. At thirteen, desperate to hook up with Janis Joplin, he attended his aunt Joan Didion's legendary LA launch party for Tom Wolfe's The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. In his early twenties, he shared a Manhattan apartment with his best friend and soulmate Carrie Fisher while she was filming some sci-fi movie called Star Wars and he was a struggling actor selling popcorn at Radio City Music Hall. A few years later, he produced and starred in the now-iconic film After Hours, directed by Martin Scorsese.
In the midst of it all, Griffin's twenty-two-year-old sister, Dominique, a rising star in Hollywood, was brutally strangled to death by her ex-boyfriend, leading to one of the most infamous public trials of the 1980s. The outcome was a travesty of justice that marked the beginning of their father Dominick Dunne's career as a bestselling author of true crime narratives.
And yet, for all its boldface cast of characters and jaw-dropping scenes, The Friday Afternoon Club is no mere celebrity memoir. It is, down to its bones, a family story that embraces the poignant absurdities and best and worst efforts of its loveable, infuriating, funny and moving characters - its author most of all.
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review
NatalieR
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My only knowledge of Griffin Dunne, prior to reading this family memoir, was his role in the 1987 movie Who‘s That Girl, starring Madonna. I enjoyed reading The Friday Afternoon Club. Other people‘s lives have always fascinated me, so I appreciate it when people are willing to share some of the most private moments of their lives.

Full review at abookandadog.com/blog/the-friday-afternoon-club

Bec_lectic Beautiful dahlias! 1w
NatalieR @Bec_lectic Thank you! 😊 🌸 1w
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marleed
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I was close in age to Dominique Dunne, intrigued by her as an actress, and heartbroken by her devastating death. Because of that both her father and brother (one of two people I was aware had the first name Griffin when I named my son 34 years ago) remained on my radar. I thought this memoir was fascinating and had no idea Griffin‘s life was so intriguing.

CBee I finished this a few days ago and it was excellent 👏🏻 1mo
marleed @CBee I thought so too. In fact, for that question about anyone dead or alive who might you invite to your dinner table I might now need to include Griffin Dunne. I‘m thinking of his Dad‘s experience with Elizabeth Taylor and his bestie‘s experience with Debbie Reynolds he might have some good yarns he‘d hesitate to ✍️ in a book 🤣🤣 1mo
CBee @marleed I‘ve always loved him! Even his “career killer” movie - I loved it! He was a cutie pie (full disclosure, he still is 😊). 1mo
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CBee
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Possibly a favorite of the year ♥️ I‘ve always loved Griffin Dunne (I even liked Who‘s That Girl 😂), and love him even more after listening to this. Highly recommend on audio!

AmyG Ok…bumping up. 1mo
CBee @AmyG oh yay! I really loved it ♥️♥️ 1mo
BkClubCare I thought that was Joan Didion! 1mo
CBee @BkClubCare in the picture? It is! She was married to John Dunne, Griffin‘s uncle. 1mo
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Leftcoastzen
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amazing read!Griffin was one of 3 kids born to Dominick Dunne & “Lenny” Griffin Dunne , w/family problems , mom‘s illness & Dominick drummed out of the producing business , Griffin had a feral Hollywood existence. He was lucky ,intuitive,& made something of himself despite all that. There is often humor & great tragedy as his sister Dominique, is strangled by a boyfriend. Griffin is great storyteller, his great friendship w/Carrie Fisher, no idea!

dabbe I loved Dominick Dunne's articles in VANITY FAIR. 💚💙💚 4mo
Leftcoastzen @dabbe I did too! That was a breakthrough moment for him, when Tina Brown was trying to rescue Vanity Fair, Dunne explained the family was going to be in court everyday with Domonique‘s trial, Tina said write it all down then meet with me after. 4mo
dabbe @Leftcoastzen I just reread that first article in the VF archives! I remember when he reported on the OJ trial as well. 4mo
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Leftcoastzen
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dabbe 💚💙💚 5mo
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