Black Swans

Los Angeles is easy to pick on: smog, traffic, outrageous housing prices... And yet, its allure has captured so many people.  Eve Babitz, not unlike Joan Didion, captures the good, the bad, and the ugly of California and makes it a compelling read.  Babitz's life bumped up to stardom in so many ways, including romancing famous rock stars.  However, it would be a mistake to write her off as simply a privileged semi-socialite with good timing.  Her tales of excess break through Southern California's shiny veneer and expose universal truths that can resonate with people regardless of where they make their home.