A review by mikewardevrybdy
Hollywood's Eve: Eve Babitz and the Secret History of L.A. by Lili Anolik

5.0

I heard of this book a long time ago when Lili Anolik was on a podcast talking about the book. I didn’t really know her but had recently just got into Eve Babitz & Joan Didion, so I was very intrigued by the interview and the book. I didn’t jump to reading the book but I didn’t exactly forget it either. I do however earlier this year get into Lili’s podcast Once Upon A Time In… Both seasons were great but it was season 2 on Bennington college that blew me away. How she was able to not only tell 3 writer’s beginnings as just a story but also insight into how each built their creative styles. When both Eve & Joan died at the end of last year I relistened to that podcast on Eve and didn’t realize it was Lili from her Once Upon A Time podcast. I mention this because everything I loved about her podcast is alive in this book. She’s not just telling Eve’s life story, she’s breaking down who Eve is as an artist and how she transformed her life into her work. Sure the book is unapologetically through the lens of Lili, but what a beautiful/curious/wise lens she has. Can’t wait to read/listen/reflect on what future work Lili chooses to do.