Books of all time, ranked; 7 VOTES.
Slow Days, Fast Company
by Eve Babitz, 1977; 8 votes. Below are the best of the best, the 26 works that appeared at least seven times among our respondents, ranked according to the vote count.Slow Days, Fast Company
by Eve Babitz, 1977 Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis, 1985 Subscribers have exclusive access to this story Diaries, 1939-1983 (in 3 volumes) by Christopher Isherwood The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, 1953 Your Ultimate L, A.Bookhelf has here a guide to the 110 L A, essential. Books, plus essays, supporting quotes, and a ranked list of the best of the best.
White Oleander
by Janet Fitch, 1999 What about Santa Ana's mothers, murders, and winds? On a roller-coaster ride through the city's foster care system, passing through the son of a magnetic narcissist, Fitch nods to influences that range from West to Didion, while expanding social strata: poor, working class, wealthy exiles and Hollywood perfectionists. Pico Iyer praises the novel “for capturing not only the feel and fragrance of L, A.But their families are fractured and are carried away by an uncommon lyricism and warmth. Pamela Redmond considers her “a successor” to Chandler and Ellroy by showing the dark and bloody heart of Los Angeles. BK Slouching Towards Bethlehem by Joan Didion, 1968 Everyone has their favorite Didion, and many respondents opted for “The White Album”, focusing more on Southern California. But “Bending over” was a bolt of lightning, a direct blow to the counterculture.
It could be said that the main essay is his masterpiece, a brilliant vivisection of a place and a time when the center collapsed. We have to thank “Los Angeles Notebook”, among other gifts, for the best weather report ever published (on the Santa Ana winds). Then there was “Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream”, an article about true crimes that became a gutting of the suburban idyll. BK Always Running by Luis J.
Rodríguez, 1993 A former poet laureate from Los Angeles has become an essential voice in Southern California. In many ways, that arc begins with this autobiography, which narrates his experience as a young man involved with gangs and drugs. What is remarkable about the book is its clarity; Rodríguez never lets anyone, including himself, get out of trouble. At the same time, he enthusiastically defends the healthy effects of art and community.
As William Archila says: “Finally, an L, A. Story about a world I could identify with. DLU You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
In a Lonely Place
by Dorothy B.Hughes, 1947 The White Boy Shuffle by Paul Beatty, 1996 The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, 1939 Chandler wrote like a broken and hungover angel, seeing the beauty and darkness of Los Angeles together. This first novel introduced readers to detective Philip Marlowe, tired of the world, with phrases such as: “It seemed like a good neighborhood to have bad habits in. Marlowe begins at the home of a rich man and deftly goes through more sordid scenes: porn vendors, Hollywood nightclubs and murders, only to return and leave a trail of broken hearts. Despite how iconic it is now, it took Marlowe a while to realize after a circular tour of the film version of Humphrey Bogart's coining of “noir” in France and consecration of Chandler's clumsy vision of L.
A. CK: In this magnificent novel Cha overrides all conventions of crime fiction even when he uses them for broader purposes. Inspired by the assassination of Latasha Harlins in 1991 the book goes almost from 1992 uprising to present describing effects that murder had on two families (one black other Korean). Cha is skilled stylist vivid character creator understanding there are no simplistic solutions in situation like this.
DLU Parable of Sower by Octavia E. Butler 1993 McWilliams' masterpiece combines history social commentary political observation evoke Southern California three dimensions with all its complexity contradictions. More than three-quarters century later not only relevant but also prophetic about water land race development tension between mythology realities ground. Inspired Adamic Mayo forerunner work all Los Angeles writers who came later essential text DLU Ask Dust by John Fante Devil Blue Dress 1939 Walter Mosley 1990 Underemployed veteran World War II Easy Rawlins debuted this novel quickly went occupy prominent place crime fiction being compared Marlowe others Mosley's novel told unknown story murder corruption City Los Angeles but did so along Crenshaw Boulevard rather than rich enclaves Pasadena demonstrated writes Rachel Howzell Hall that “Black Angels really exist there heroes women here With fast-paced dialogue rich atmosphere Mosley created iconic character new story tell CK Mercurochrome Wanda Coleman 2001 Play It As It Lays Joan Didion 1970 Day Lobster Nathanael West West's last novel 1939 (died year after publication) Hollywood masterpiece lurid pointed satire movie business its considerable discontents film which revolves around stage painter named Tod Hackett imagines city will end conflagration attentive look hypocrisies contradictions industry both current current DLU Getting writers reach consensus notoriously complicated proposition 95 respondents offered wide range books presented arguments totally counterintuitive sometimes questioned entire premise classifications gender distinctions one thing they agreed (more than third them) was that “City Quartz” Mike Davis'...
