The Los Angeles Times
"Los Angeles has been the subject of, and setting for, many fine novels yet The Day of the Locust still feels like the single best-achieved piece of fiction the city has inspired."
What we talk about when we talk about Old Hollywood: classic movies, glamorous movie stars, true crime, lush romance, bitter disillusionment, and of course a dash of noir, all tucked away behind Los Angeles’s seemingly perfect, sun-shiny facade. Day of the Locust, by Nathanael West, What Makes Sammy Run?, by Budd Schulberg, and Play it as […]
If you’ve already terrified yourself discovering what bread is doing to your body in David Perlmutter’s Grain Brain, by David Perlmutter, then there’s more where that came from. Sugar, Salt, Fat, by Michael Moss, explores exactly why it is that you love all the junk food you love—because it has been specifically engineered, at a chemical […]
With its perma-summer, its dramatic scenery, and its status as the capital of the entertainment industry, L.A. is the quintessential Californian dream town. Even the smog contributes to the city’s vibe by providing breathtaking sunsets. It’s no wonder so many classic books have been set in La La Land, and it was a serious challenge […]
We’ve already provided you with ample evidence that Hollywood has a love affair with books, but the affection most definitely goes both ways. Like the rest of us, many authors are understandably fascinated with the allure of the movie business, and all its trappings—from the bright lights cast by giant stars to the skeletons hiding […]
Alison Umminger’s dark debut is already one of my favorite books of the year. After a bullying incident goes too far, teenaged Anna uses her stepmom’s credit card to set out for seedy, sunny Los Angeles. There, she’s taken in by her B-list actress sister, whose life feels marginal in every way: her career is stalled, she barely keeps food in […]