Paperback L.A. Book 1: A Casual Anthology: Clothes, Coffee, Crushes, Crimes (Paperback L.A., 1) by Susan LaTempa


Paperback L.A. Book 1: A Casual Anthology: Clothes, Coffee, Crushes, Crimes (Paperback L.A., 1)
Title : Paperback L.A. Book 1: A Casual Anthology: Clothes, Coffee, Crushes, Crimes (Paperback L.A., 1)
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : 1945551240
ISBN-10 : 9781945551246
Language : English
Format Type : Paperback
Number of Pages : 152
Publication : Published May 8, 2018

Paperback LA Book 1 is a surprising and witty collection of some of the best writing about Los Angeles. In this first of four volumes of Paperback LA anthologies, there are more than a dozen major selections include new work and fresh discoveries: a radio broadcast, a ballad, a magazine article, excerpts from prizewinning novels and memoirs. The written pieces are punctuated by three eye-opening photo essays, a quotable lineup of one-liners, and some short, quick hits. Contributors are: Eve Babitz • Paul Beatty • Dan Bern • Arna Bontemps • Carlos Bulosan • Cecil Castelucci • Victoria Dailey • William Heath Davis • Robert Landau • Justin Andrew Marks • Steve Martin • Hugo Reid • Vin Scully • Susan Sontag • Clancy Sigel • Hector Tobar • Victor and Mary Lau Valle •
Elysa Voshell/Venice Arts.

Paperback LA’s contributors have attitude, and they have information. Each work illuminates some aspect of the city’s rich, spread-out reality—in settings that range from a 1920s rural dance pavilion to 1960s Dodger Stadium, with subject matter that sprawls from bookselling to bodysurfing.

Paperback L.A. Book 1: A Casual Anthology: Clothes, Coffee, Crushes, Crimes (Paperback L.A., 1) Reviews

  • Nancy

    I enjoy reading books on the history, lore and flavor of LA and whenever I come across a book that captures the city, will purchase. One of my favorites has been David Ulin’s book, Sidewalking, Coming to Terms with Los Angeles.

    Editor Susan LaTempa’s Anthology in Paperback LA, Book 1, gave me not only a written account, but a visual one as well. These glimpses into the city from the 1830’s dress of the rancheros to the 2017 Black Lives Matter rally are precious. I enjoyed the story snippets, the history, the humor, and the one-liners (this book has it all). But to me, two of the photo essays, LA Obscura and Venice Skate Park are so quintessential LA, that I think people could identify them as LA without them having to be in a book about LA. Robert Landau’s photos in particular, captures the city so perfectly.

    Will definitely be purchasing the other books in this series and as Ms LaTempa hints, will be reading them out in the sun in a lounger by the pool.

  • Karen

    A really unique anthology that carefully picks some outlying pieces about LA - things that don't appear in other anthologies along with some great photography. I'd read some of the excerpts in the original novels, but others were new to me -- especially liked the Susan Sontag piece and the one about old bookstores in LA. That bookish, cultured history is often overlooked when most think of Southern California. I was glad to see it here. I also liked the inclusion of Vin Scully's call of Koufax's perfect game in 1965 (the last lines of which my husband can recite verbatim).

  • Angela

    Fun glimpse into LA’s varied history and cultures.