Sex, Death and God in L.A.

by David Reid

David Reid has gathered together the novelists, journalists, and cultural critics who could best address the myths, define the truths, and interpret the media images of the second largest city in the U.S. They report on the new Latino and Asian populations of South Central and the East Side and the old establishment of the West side; Downtown with its heavily mortgaged office towers held by Canadian and Japanese landlords; shuttered factories and thriving sweatshops; architecture from Irving Gill to Frank O. Gehry; messiahs from Krishnamurti to L. Ron Hubbard; rituals of power in Movieland and yoga and seduction in Beverly Hills. Ranging from acute political commentary to evocative literary impressions, this is a collection that will engage not only those who live in southern California but all those curious about this megalopolis in the desert.

Genres: Essays

404 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1992

Reviews

[LAPL Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This essay collection about Los Angeles includes the works of Eve Babitz, Alexander Cockburn, Mike Davis, Lynell George, Thomas S. Hines, Jeremy Larner, Rubén Martínez, David Reid, Carolyn See and David Thomson. This is an updated version (1994) of the previous edition (1992). The preface to this edition by David Reid offers a substantial analysis of Los Angeles. The preface and the essays are not at all dated and provide insights that are still wise and relevant. David Reid's comments state, “The plan of this book is to consider the character and customs of Los Angeles in relation to the fundamental things: sex, death, and religion, but also politics and race, love and marriage, the cult of youth and beauty, architecture, movies, the sense of the past. The essays are both prophetic and current. It is not that problems have not changed, they are the same and are those of humanity: employment, housing, the economy, housing, political representation, discrimination and the effects of weather. Perhaps more than any other city in the United States Los Angeles is continuously in flux, and represents issues that take place globally. Los Angeles is not only on one side of the Pacific Rim, it is a city that is, by necessity and circumstance, groundbreaking.

Los Angeles has been characterized as a city of great diversity. However, I think that for many decades Los Angeles has gone way beyond diversity. It was, and continues to be a cross-section of the globe in the countries, cultures, languages, religions and customs that are represented by the people who live and work here and continue to come here to do the same. Then as now, this representation of the world, in one city, enriches Los Angeles and also presents challenges and problems for everyone.

Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction

[Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first I almost didn't follow through with reading the book because it was too dated (1992) even though it's been in my "books about LA" list forever. But I grew to really appreciate the time capsule effect of getting to walk the streets of Downtown during a previous big building boom that is echoing right now. I did skim through a couple of the essays though. I found myself wishing someone would create an identical collection of essays about this present moment in LA.

[Kim Fay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am giving this book 5 stars based on the 2 essays I read in it: one by Eve Babitz and one by Carolyn See (I adore both writers!). Of the 2, Carolyn's was edgier, which surprised me. Babitz is always so out there, but I guess that never surprises me, and I am constantly amazed by what a subversive writer See is; at the same time she is incredibly frank. It's a hard balance to pull of, but she's an expert. Her take on race/racism gave me much to think about. I'm looking forward to reading her essay "Melting" a few more times to fully appreciate it.

[Richard Downey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I thought it was going to be a gossipy read somewhat like Hollywood Babylon that talked about the underside of life in L.A.. I was therefore pleasantly surprised that it was more of a sociological study of the city, albeit with a more pop culture sensibility. Loved it!

[Stark · Rating 1 out of 5]

People who aren't from L.A. can go home.
People who were born here can only die, go insane, or disappear.

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't give it 2/5 stars, so it gets two. I couldn't whole-heartedly recommend this to anyone.

[Malcolm · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fabulous collection of essays about LA in the late 1980s.

[Eduardo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the Mike Davis part for research as always Davis out does himself in the knowledge of the area.