Books matching: 1930s los angeles
11 result(s)
- #1
Save:A brutally honest, beautifully written classic about longing, love, and failure in LA - unforgettable for its voice and atmosphere, but not for everyone. If you like your fiction raw, honest, and unvarnished, this is a must-read.
"Ask the Dust" by John Fante is a story set in LA in 1939, following the struggles of writer Arturo Bandini as he lives hand to mouth, blows his money as soon as he receives it, and falls in love with a waitress named Camila Lopez. Their relationship is portrayed as a love-hate dynamic, filled with volatile emotions and irrational choices. As the plot unfolds, Camilla ends up in a mental institution and disappears into the desert, leaving Bandini grappling with his own shortcomings and desires.
The writing style of "Ask the Dust" is described as dark, beautifully told, and capturing the essence of 1930s Los Angeles. The novel is praised for its vivid portrayal of dive bars, cheap rooms, and the struggles of a young writer beset by love and affliction. The relationship between Bandini and Camilla is depicted as a blend of bitterness and warmth, with tragic characters and gorgeous prose creating a brief yet rewarding narrative that keeps readers engaged until the poignant ending.
One night I was sitting on the bed in my hotel room on Bunker Hill, down in the very middle of Los Angeles. It was an important night in my life, because I had to make a decision about the hotel. Eith...2002•194 pages - #2
Save:Lean, mean, and devastating - this is noir at its absolute best. A must-read for crime fans and anyone wanting to see what all the noir fuss is about!
In 'Double Indemnity', insurance salesman Walter Huff becomes entangled with the femme fatale Phyllis Nirdlinger, leading to a plot to murder her husband for the insurance money. The story unfolds with intricate murder plots, double crosses, and a dark, twisted tale of crime set in 1930s Los Angeles. Written in a hard-boiled style, the book delves into themes of murder, betrayal, revenge, and questions about human nature, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
I drove out to Glendale to put three new truck drivers on a brewery company bond, and then I remembered this renewal over in Hollywoodland. I decided to run over there. That was how I came to this Hou...1936•126 pages - #3
Save:'The Simple Art of Murder' by Raymond Chandler is a collection of early detective stories set in the 1920s and 30s, featuring various characters and plotlines that showcase Chandler's realistic and gritty writing style. The book includes a mix of short stories originally written for pulp magazines, providing a glimpse into the world of crime fiction during that era. Chandler's famous essay, also titled 'The Simple Art of Murder,' criticizes traditional detective stories and highlights the shift towards American hard-boiled fiction, setting the tone for the genre to come.
1950•359 pages - #4
Save:In 'Something More Than Night' by Kim Newman, the story revolves around the unlikely partnership of novelist Raymond Chandler and actor Boris Karloff as they delve into investigations that intertwine crime and horror during the golden age of Hollywood. The narrative is described as a genre-spanning novel that skillfully combines hard-boiled detective fiction with pulp horror elements, set in the late 1930s Los Angeles. The book features a complex plot narrated in a rambling style that captures the essence of the time period, with Chandler and Karloff shining as they bring the story to life with their investigations into unusual occurrences in a town filled with both human and inhuman monsters.
November 2021•367 pages - #5
Save:Short, dark, and unforgettable - a classic snapshot of despair and survival during hard times. If you’re in the mood for something gritty and thought-provoking, it’s a must-read.
'They Shoot Horses, Don't They?' by Horace McCoy is a dark and grim novella set during the Great Depression that follows the story of Robert and Gloria, two young individuals trying to break into Hollywood. They team up to enter a marathon dance competition in hopes of gaining recognition and financial stability. The book delves into themes of desperation, exploitation, and disillusionment, all set against the backdrop of a grueling dance marathon that becomes a metaphor for the struggles of the era. The narrative is framed around a hearing, with flashbacks revealing the events leading up to a tragic outcome, creating a suspenseful and tension-filled storytelling style.
IT WAS FUNNY THE way I met Gloria. She was trying to get into pictures too, but I didn’t know that until later. I was walking down Melrose one day from the Paramount studios when I heard somebody holl...1935•242 pages - #6
Save:A chaotic, sometimes hilarious, sometimes maddening portrait of youthful delusion and rage - recommended for Fante fans and lovers of gritty literary misfits, but maybe skip if you need a hero you can root for.
"The Road to Los Angeles" by John Fante follows the life of Arturo Gabriel Bandini, a young writer with a narcissistic personality, portrayed as pretentious, lazy, and abrasive. The story delves into Bandini's struggles and failures as he navigates through life with his overactive mind and violent tendencies. The writing style is described as a mix of good and bad, showcasing Fante's potential as a writer but also highlighting the flaws in character development and plot progression.
I had a lot of jobs in Los Angeles Harbor because our family was poor and my father was dead. My first job was ditchdigging a short time after I graduated from high school. Every night I couldn’t slee...2000•177 pages
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series The Saga of Arturo Bandini ) - #7
Save:A brilliant, biting Hollywood nightmare - bleak, fascinating, and unsettling. Worth a read for lovers of classic literature and dark satire, but not everyone will want to linger in its shadowy world.
The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West is a novel set in Hollywood in the 1930s, exploring the dark side of the entertainment industry through the eyes of various characters. The book delves into themes of decadence, desperation, and disillusionment, portraying a world where individuals are driven to ruin by their pursuit of fame and fortune. The writing style is described as skillful and precise, with vivid descriptions that bring the characters and setting to life, even though the plot may seem disjointed at times.
Around quitting time, Tod Hackett heard a great din on the road outside his office. The groan of leather mingled with the jangle of iron and over all beat the tattoo of a thousand hooves. He hurried t...1939•230 pages A vivid, accessible, and balanced dive into Revolutionary Boston - more than just a battle, it's the tangled human story of how America began. Highly recommended for history fans, but newcomers may want to keep a character list handy!
Nathaniel Philbrick's 'Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution' delves into the events in Greater Boston that sparked the Revolutionary War, from the Boston Tea Party to the British evacuation of Boston after the Battle of Bunker Hill. The book paints a vivid picture of the early days of the American Revolution, focusing on key battles like Lexington and Concord, and highlighting the roles of important figures such as Joseph Warren, Samuel Adams, and George Washington. Philbrick's storytelling weaves together the events leading up to the Revolution, providing a nuanced and detailed account of this critical period in American history.
More than five thousand people waited inside the Old South Meetinghouse, the largest gathering place in Boston. On that evening in the middle of December 1773, they were impatient to hear what Governo...April 2013•417 pages- #9
Save:A vicious, relentless plunge into LA's noir underworld. Not for the faint of heart, but a must-read for fans of brutal, uncompromising crime fiction.
'White Jazz' by James Ellroy is the final installment in the L.A. Quartet series, delving into the unimaginable corruption within the police department and the intrigue between major players in the LAPD. The story follows a detective lawyer attempting to solve puzzles while dealing with criminal acts and memories of past actions. The narrative is characterized by a gritty, noir style filled with violence, gore, and racism, presented through a fragmented stream of consciousness that keeps readers engaged with its tension and pace.
Grab him, shout: ‘This was shots fired inside, a fucking criminal altercation. We went in the window because we figured the door wouldn’t go down. You talk nice to the new guys and tell them I owe the...October 1991•414 pages
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series L.A. Quartet ) - #10
Save:A brutal, brilliantly crafted slice of L.A. noir with heaps of grime and grit - if you can handle the darkness, it’s a must-read in the crime genre.
A thrilling novel that weaves its way through plot lines, characters, events, and discovery. The story revolves around the 50's red scare and a number of murders in LA, told from three different police officers' points of view. It delves into the dark side of 1950s Los Angeles, exploring themes of police corruption, serial murder, Communist witch hunts, and the underworld of homosexual prostitution.
Thundershowers hit just before midnight, drowning out the horn honks and noisemaker blare that usually signalled New Year’s on the Strip, bringing 1950 to the West Hollywood Substation in a wave of h...January 1988•481 pages
(Also, see 100 recommendations for the series L.A. Quartet )
