| Title | : | In Search of a City: Los Angeles in 1,000 Words |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1466338172 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781466338173 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 134 |
| Publication | : | First published November 17, 2011 |
ABOUT THE BOOK: Los Angeles is whatever you want it to be, and nothing like you think. I gave these photos to a group of authors and asked them for precisely 1,000 words about what they saw. They didn't disappoint. Dreams, drugs, drama. Fame, famine, and fading glory. Few of the authors in this book have stepped foot in L.A., yet the soul of this city is so invasive and pervasive that the collection embodies everything that makes up this sprawling metropolitan mess. There’s everyday life in Los Angeles, from the shiny dreams of the Hills to the hard realities of life in the Valley and out to the Inland Empire, and even more stories that are purely the stuff of dreams and fantasies, the kinds of worlds that exist only behind giant creaking doors on backlots scattered throughout the Southland. Whether you live here or just want to visit for a few moments, you’re in for one hell of a ride.
In Search of a City: Los Angeles in 1,000 Words Reviews
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What a great collection of stories. I've never been to L.A., but reading this collection made me feel closer to the city than I ever have before.
The aim of the anthology is a little obscure. The title says "LA in 1,000 words." But the back cover says they are short stories "inspired by LA." My take is that they are both. Editor Michael Paul Gonzales gave each author a photo taken in LA, and from there they had to craft a story using the photo as inspiration. Some stories directly include the image they are given, while others take a more abstract approach. The end result is a great mix of stories that showcases a diverse array of styles.
One of the things I really liked was the varied interpretations of the images. Some authors directly involved LA as the setting of their story. Others seemed to make their stories encompass the spirit of LA. A few others reflected LA not in setting or spirit, but in the way that a random snapshot of the city could inspire and shape a story.
There were few weak entries in this collection, but I'll try to pick a few favorites below.
"Subtitles for a Silent Film" by Nik Houser - What a beautiful story. Definitely my favorite of the collection, as well as the most imaginative interpretation of an image.
"Sick Ticket" by Nikki Guerlain - Great channeling of LA weirdness and it's "anything can happen vibe"
"Gilded Bones" by Amanda Gowin - speaks so well to the hope that people put into LA, and the magic it seems to hold for desperate dreamers everywhere.
So many great stories. The images and strict word limit inspire a one-of-a-kind anthology. I can only hope there will be more like this about other cities.
Kudos to the Thunderdome team for putting together a gorgeous book with an inventive and gorgeous layout. This was a book made with love by readers, for readers. Highly recommended. -
Great collection of flash fiction, giving an honest look at LA with lots of fresh perspectives. This is a collection to be savored, rather than read in one or two sittings. Each story, in its own way, is a thinker. Genres and styles vary, but my feeling was to treat it more like The I Ching, in that you'll get more out of it reading one or two at a time and allowing yourself time to think and contemplate. A very original collection with a lot of very good, talented writers. Check this one out.
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This book marks the end of the very successful Reading Challenge 2014, and it just could not have been better.
Epic book, with epic stories, and by the epic people.
Leaving 2014, In Love with The City: Los Angeles... -
Deserved every bit of the five stars!
