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A review by sethlewisrice
The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West
4.0
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