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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
slow-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
I can't say that I enjoyed reading this book. I can see how influential it was (Homer Simpson anyone?!) and I can also see that it's supposed to be exaggerated and funny, but I found reading "The Day of the Locust" to be exhausting. 2 stars
An artist goes to Hollywood during the Great Depression to paint a picture about the burning of Los Angeles--which he feels to be a prophecy--and ends up destroyed, or enlightened, by the human condition.
I liked this, but it's a bit wobbly as a work of fiction. Really, it's just a setup for the main character's final revelation, a series of vignettes rather than a plot. Disorienting, brilliant, but never quite pulled me in.
Recommended as a counterpoint to Grapes of Wrath, if norhing else.
I liked this, but it's a bit wobbly as a work of fiction. Really, it's just a setup for the main character's final revelation, a series of vignettes rather than a plot. Disorienting, brilliant, but never quite pulled me in.
Recommended as a counterpoint to Grapes of Wrath, if norhing else.
I made it past 100 pages but I just can't stand the characters. So quit is goes.
2024 favourites in no particular order
#11 Nathanael West - ‘The Day of the Locust’ (1939)
An artist seeks inspiration under the corrupt, violently aspirational canopy of Hollywood. Simmers for a little bit and then keeps on exploding. A book about how an American Dream, sold as a right to all, is, in fact, a shifty substance harboured by chance and sacrifice. A beautiful character with no talent beats her head against her limitations; a recluse is ignored at a party in his own home; identities devolve into caricature. With this book, West says two very important things:
1. What you have to do to ‘make it’ in a system like Hollywood might not be worth it, artistically and psychologically.
2. It is never clear what ‘making it’ ever even looks like.
Killer final line.
4.5 stars
#11 Nathanael West - ‘The Day of the Locust’ (1939)
An artist seeks inspiration under the corrupt, violently aspirational canopy of Hollywood. Simmers for a little bit and then keeps on exploding. A book about how an American Dream, sold as a right to all, is, in fact, a shifty substance harboured by chance and sacrifice. A beautiful character with no talent beats her head against her limitations; a recluse is ignored at a party in his own home; identities devolve into caricature. With this book, West says two very important things:
1. What you have to do to ‘make it’ in a system like Hollywood might not be worth it, artistically and psychologically.
2. It is never clear what ‘making it’ ever even looks like.
Killer final line.
4.5 stars
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have no star review for this. I got about 25% in, and I am just not engaged. It might just be the wrong time for me to read this or the fact that I often don't relate to noir, but I can't seem to focus, so I am moving on.
Alright, so I decided to read this due to the reference to this book in Y: The Last Man comic. I did not like it. I see the appeal, it is over-the-top and definitely has a statement regarding Hollywood culture (or at least of the early-mid 1900's).
It seemed very intentional that all of the characters were crappy people, but that is why I couldn't find too much appeal in the story. I also have a big red flag for books that condone rape- and while no rape happened in the book, the protagonist seems to think of raping enough.
Sorry, Yorick. I just do not agree with your views on this book.
It seemed very intentional that all of the characters were crappy people, but that is why I couldn't find too much appeal in the story. I also have a big red flag for books that condone rape- and while no rape happened in the book, the protagonist seems to think of raping enough.
Sorry, Yorick. I just do not agree with your views on this book.
Possibly the worst book I've ever read in my life.
The Day of the Locust has a few really powerful moments, but as a whole it's underwhelming. West's style is at times too mean and too detached--this is especially a problem because most of the characters are too slimy to connect to. Honestly, even the narration is too mean at times. At least it's short.