Reviews

Jours tranquilles, brèves rencontres by Eve Babitz

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ashleyyy's review against another edition

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funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

crosereader's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

lavrendy's review against another edition

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4.0

Okay so

1) This level of sharp yet carefree writing cuts me to my CORE because I just can’t comprehend how it’s possible to achieve in a lifetime

2) I loved watching Eve worship women. She observes them with so much admiration, it’s touching. That adoring tone translated into descriptions of herself as well (she wasn’t afraid to call herself sexy lol! Good for her)

3) Really just what is semi-fictional autobiography. Like are these stories true or not haha. Guess it doesn’t matter either way since I enjoyed them ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

rmyyy's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced

5.0

reggiewoods's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Eve Babitz’s semi-fictional memoir is a collection of short stories that are great for the voyeur. Babitz was a writer and visual artists in Los Angeles, and this collection encompasses her time hobnobbing amongst the Hollywood Elite of the late 60s and early 70s. For a socialite, she is quite misanthropic toward her scene, almost as if L.A. has given her Stockholm Syndrome. Her stories are mostly about beautiful people living absurd lives in this fantastical world, mostly as the do drugs, sleep with one another, and have mental breakdowns. The fact that it is an insider’s look into Hollywood is not quite what makes Babitz special, but her unique and fearless voice in which her prose is composed. It’s not the scandal of it all that appeals to the reader, but how Babitz makes you feel as if you were quietly sitting next to her, observing the whole insane circus.