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Loafing by La Brea
On a bench by the La Brea Tar Pits, twenty-five year old freelance consultant Nick Conrad sips his coffee and smokes his cigarettes. He has a lot on his mind. There’s the perennial hunt for gainful employment. There’s his buddy Arman, whose self-destructive boozing, coke snorting, and carousing is beginning to take its toll. And then there’s Tara, his ex. She’s found work as a crime reporter, just as a particularly macabre serial killer dubbed the “San Fernando Valley Slaughterer” has started to terrorize the city.
Luckily for Nick, his aunt and uncle have paid him to watch their house in Hancock Park while they take a couple months to travel throughout Europe. He needs the income and free rent, at least until he crosses paths with Lee, a BMW-driving, country-clubbing former coworker of his who may just have a job for him.
Nick bides his time by lounging about in the house and swimming in the backyard when he’s not privy to Arman’s shenanigans or hitting the links with Lee. Nick may feel that life is starting to pass him by, but not without the increasingly frequent interruption of newscasts discussing the murders. And he’s still not quite sure how he feels about Tara. Everything is coming to a head.
From the stately mansions and chic bistros of Beverly Hills to the monotonous theme park motel-dotted streets of Anaheim, Loafing by La Brea takes its readers on a freeway ride through the good, bad, and ugly of contemporary Los Angeles.
Luckily for Nick, his aunt and uncle have paid him to watch their house in Hancock Park while they take a couple months to travel throughout Europe. He needs the income and free rent, at least until he crosses paths with Lee, a BMW-driving, country-clubbing former coworker of his who may just have a job for him.
Nick bides his time by lounging about in the house and swimming in the backyard when he’s not privy to Arman’s shenanigans or hitting the links with Lee. Nick may feel that life is starting to pass him by, but not without the increasingly frequent interruption of newscasts discussing the murders. And he’s still not quite sure how he feels about Tara. Everything is coming to a head.
From the stately mansions and chic bistros of Beverly Hills to the monotonous theme park motel-dotted streets of Anaheim, Loafing by La Brea takes its readers on a freeway ride through the good, bad, and ugly of contemporary Los Angeles.
168 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2014
5 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 13, 2018
I cannot believe this author is still spamming away all over Goodreads - we got it, you have no shame or self-respect, now STOP SPAMMING UNDER MY REVIEWS!!!! (I asked him to do that 5 times by now, and he just does not care).
July 21, 2018
I have to preface this review with the note that the author sent me a free copy in exchange for the review. And I really love when that happens. But I really hate when I have to give a low rating both because when I get new authors and new work I am an optimist and hope it is going to be fabulous and I can brag that I helped "discover" someone and well, because I am afraid that everytime this happens it is less and less likely that I'll get any more free books. Sigh.
And so, the bias OF COURSE is always towards loving free books. But, alas. I just can't.
Hughes tries hard and I think his message here is that life is mundane. I imagine that he was trying to write some modern day Ulyssess set in soCal, but instead the book just comes off as really, really boring. I mean really. This is kind of a daily journal for a guy who has no life. He is a 20something house sitting for his aunt and uncle and not doing much else except going out for Starbucks.
It is not a character piece in that there is no growth or change; it is not a plot piece in that nothing happens (even the most exciting part of the story..the murderer..is not really a mystery, but more of a passive side development and it was not a twist or surprising). I think most of the actual text in fact, was describing the traffic pattern, alternate routes, and map of the greater LA area. Seriously, the largest part of this book was driving.
In fact, one of the chapters that had the most potential for being an actual character development or relationship describing or having some deeper meaning was mostly traffic: the chapter for Arman's funeral. Seriously 2/3s of the chapter was describing the route down and the route back home. The actual funeral was less than 1/3 of the chapter.
Overall I just didn't see the point. The writing is not fabulous (although there were moments when I could see Hughes trying to be wise), the development is non existent, and the whole thing was just boring as hell.
And so, the bias OF COURSE is always towards loving free books. But, alas. I just can't.
Hughes tries hard and I think his message here is that life is mundane. I imagine that he was trying to write some modern day Ulyssess set in soCal, but instead the book just comes off as really, really boring. I mean really. This is kind of a daily journal for a guy who has no life. He is a 20something house sitting for his aunt and uncle and not doing much else except going out for Starbucks.
It is not a character piece in that there is no growth or change; it is not a plot piece in that nothing happens (even the most exciting part of the story..the murderer..is not really a mystery, but more of a passive side development and it was not a twist or surprising). I think most of the actual text in fact, was describing the traffic pattern, alternate routes, and map of the greater LA area. Seriously, the largest part of this book was driving.
In fact, one of the chapters that had the most potential for being an actual character development or relationship describing or having some deeper meaning was mostly traffic: the chapter for Arman's funeral. Seriously 2/3s of the chapter was describing the route down and the route back home. The actual funeral was less than 1/3 of the chapter.
Overall I just didn't see the point. The writing is not fabulous (although there were moments when I could see Hughes trying to be wise), the development is non existent, and the whole thing was just boring as hell.
November 15, 2018
What, not even a comment on my review, how tacky. You see that I reviewed a book so you spammed me ?
November 25, 2018
The author commented on a review I wrote, suggesting if I liked that book I should read his. I did so.
Apparently, I now see he does this to a lot of people, spamming suggestions to read his book. He has given a lot of thought and energy to self-promotion. Would that he put some time into studying plot construction, writing believable dialogue, considering character development -- or even reviewing some basic grammar. This book is, sadly, an example of the level that literature can drop to when left to self-publication on the internet. A boring story, that goes nowhere, with undeveloped characters having repetitive, dull conversations. Lots of descriptions of different routes to take through LA traffic and how bad each experience was, as well as boring summaries as if from a daily journal of someone who goes to Starbucks, sits on a bench by the La Brea tar pits, and then swims naked in the pool at a glamorous mansion he is housesitting for a rich uncle. He also spends a lot of time bemoaning his lot in life while not attempting to try to do or learn anything. (Sadly, my summary made it sound more interesting than the book actually did.) Lots of random, meaningless details that do not contribute to mood, ambiance, or plot.
In many cases like this I would recommend a writing workshop but for this one, I am reminded of what a music teacher told me many years ago after I demonstrated my passioned attempt to perform on the flute: "better for you just to go back to playing the piano" he said, shaking his head, sadly. Well, better for this author to try singing, or tap dancing, or painting watercolors, because this writing gig is just not going to work out for him.
Apparently, I now see he does this to a lot of people, spamming suggestions to read his book. He has given a lot of thought and energy to self-promotion. Would that he put some time into studying plot construction, writing believable dialogue, considering character development -- or even reviewing some basic grammar. This book is, sadly, an example of the level that literature can drop to when left to self-publication on the internet. A boring story, that goes nowhere, with undeveloped characters having repetitive, dull conversations. Lots of descriptions of different routes to take through LA traffic and how bad each experience was, as well as boring summaries as if from a daily journal of someone who goes to Starbucks, sits on a bench by the La Brea tar pits, and then swims naked in the pool at a glamorous mansion he is housesitting for a rich uncle. He also spends a lot of time bemoaning his lot in life while not attempting to try to do or learn anything. (Sadly, my summary made it sound more interesting than the book actually did.) Lots of random, meaningless details that do not contribute to mood, ambiance, or plot.
In many cases like this I would recommend a writing workshop but for this one, I am reminded of what a music teacher told me many years ago after I demonstrated my passioned attempt to perform on the flute: "better for you just to go back to playing the piano" he said, shaking his head, sadly. Well, better for this author to try singing, or tap dancing, or painting watercolors, because this writing gig is just not going to work out for him.
November 16, 2018
Not quite a two star, but almost. Book feels like the author is telling the reader about a dream he had last night and all the characters are one dimensional, hard to get into or care about. This is to be expected in a dream retelling and why my advice is to save such dreams for your therapist. Part way through the book, I felt I was being punked and watched for how long I could stay with the book. Finished! And I have to say, I wonder what that says about me. Could have started my new Jack Reacher book sooner, but............
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November 14, 2018If I could rate a book a zero this would be one I would. This book is 100% about absolutely nothing. It was a chronicle of a man's day by day activities and or non-activities. I gave up reading it early on and just skimmed pages waiting to see how long it would take before a story would be told. It actually never happened. Hughes isn't a bad writer he just doesn't have a story to tell
November 14, 2018
Almost as boring as the spammer writer.
November 24, 2018
I was spammed too. Read it though and was quite angry at continuing spamming as I read. If it's a way of describing a generation with no real connection to anything or anybody I think it even fails at that. The serial killer plotline seems a missed opportunity and if the obsession with LA traffic was a metaphor, then I missed it. I don't need a lot of action or even much plot but there seemed to be a lack of any attempt to create. Bukowski often writes about L A and nothing happens but him getting drunk but it's still interesting. Maybe it's just the direction all those MA in CREATIVE WRITING types have dragged the novel ?
March 31, 2020
Boring story poorly written. Seriously this was a slog to get through.
If you follow the reviews of this and the author's other "works'" on Goodreads or Amazon, it is pretty clear the positive reviews are from shill accounts run by the author. Note he has hundreds of complaints against him for spammy marketing and fake account posts. Not only is he a dull writer, he's even a bad marketer.
If you follow the reviews of this and the author's other "works'" on Goodreads or Amazon, it is pretty clear the positive reviews are from shill accounts run by the author. Note he has hundreds of complaints against him for spammy marketing and fake account posts. Not only is he a dull writer, he's even a bad marketer.
July 30, 2020
What I love about Michael Hughes' writing, is it's like a reduction or deconstruction (is that the correct word? For at a restaurant when they sort of take a dish and present its core components, artfully, with showmanship and pizzazz?) of the most interesting portions of what makes so many famed Californian authors great, but for most intents and purposes removes the artifice and sensationalism sort of cluttering so many conventional plotlines and interfering with their authenticity and veracity of the storytelling.
There is plenty of reasonable excitement in Loafing By La Brea, but where it truly shines is in the minutia, those quiet subtle moments many authors will slapdashedly excise, frustratingly omit in service of Plot and Saving the Cat, but where great writers have a capability to truly capture valuable peeks into experiences insufficiently detailed, historically.
Granting us perspective into these subtleties is Hughes' greatest talent, and he is a genius at memorializing such picturesque life slices.
And while certain simpering philistines might prefer a car chase or gun battle were more frequently ensuing, I'll submit those snapshots of singular, meticulously captured experience are on par and not dissimilar from the most striking sequences of Thompson, or Cain, or Ellis, or Tolstoy for that matter.
To be present enough to truly depict a time and place, along with its curious inhabitants, is a weighty task, and Michael Hughes has an impressive knack for it. I lived in the described area of Los Angeles around the time this was released, don't any longer and have not for many years, so upon reading was immediately amazed at just how this novel brought me right back there, how the author superbly captured the prevailing character and tone of its scene and those familiar stock characters which inhabit it.
I edit a small literary journal and became familiar with the book's author when we published a short story of his ("Shattered", also excellent, free to read online incidentally!) and have since been greatly enjoying his lengthier works. If you appreciated this I highly encourage you to pick up Pumpkin Farmer which has a similar tone and setting, if somewhat darker vibes (kind of in the same vein as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Looking forward to reading Inland Intrigue next!
There is plenty of reasonable excitement in Loafing By La Brea, but where it truly shines is in the minutia, those quiet subtle moments many authors will slapdashedly excise, frustratingly omit in service of Plot and Saving the Cat, but where great writers have a capability to truly capture valuable peeks into experiences insufficiently detailed, historically.
Granting us perspective into these subtleties is Hughes' greatest talent, and he is a genius at memorializing such picturesque life slices.
And while certain simpering philistines might prefer a car chase or gun battle were more frequently ensuing, I'll submit those snapshots of singular, meticulously captured experience are on par and not dissimilar from the most striking sequences of Thompson, or Cain, or Ellis, or Tolstoy for that matter.
To be present enough to truly depict a time and place, along with its curious inhabitants, is a weighty task, and Michael Hughes has an impressive knack for it. I lived in the described area of Los Angeles around the time this was released, don't any longer and have not for many years, so upon reading was immediately amazed at just how this novel brought me right back there, how the author superbly captured the prevailing character and tone of its scene and those familiar stock characters which inhabit it.
I edit a small literary journal and became familiar with the book's author when we published a short story of his ("Shattered", also excellent, free to read online incidentally!) and have since been greatly enjoying his lengthier works. If you appreciated this I highly encourage you to pick up Pumpkin Farmer which has a similar tone and setting, if somewhat darker vibes (kind of in the same vein as Once Upon a Time in Hollywood). Looking forward to reading Inland Intrigue next!
December 9, 2018
The most boring book I have ever read. Nothing interesting, at all. It could be a diary of someone who has nothing to do. Literally loafing. I just wasted 4 hours of my life.
March 14, 2019
No wonder this book is free. We follow this young man loafing around as he keeps the house of his uncle. The problem is that his life presents absolutely no interest. But we are treated in great detail to his runs to buy coffee at Starbucks, his lousy game of golf and even the routes he takes to go from A to B in the LA area. You stick with the book because you think this cannot go on forever, something interesting must happen. But no, nothing happens. I am surprised this book was even published. If that’s what you get on Kindle Unlimited, I am out.
September 30, 2022
This book has no plot, no character development, no depth, and half of it is directions in and around LA.
Like others, I finished the book hoping that there would be a saving grace at the end to bring it all to fruition. There was an interesting moment, but the author didn’t develop it.
I freely admit that I don’t get it. Whatever his point was, it didn’t come across in this piece of writing.
Like others, I finished the book hoping that there would be a saving grace at the end to bring it all to fruition. There was an interesting moment, but the author didn’t develop it.
I freely admit that I don’t get it. Whatever his point was, it didn’t come across in this piece of writing.
March 3, 2016
Interesting California style tale
This is Michael Hughes initial offering and it has much to offer. It is quirky and compelling. I will look for other titles by this talented scribe.
This is Michael Hughes initial offering and it has much to offer. It is quirky and compelling. I will look for other titles by this talented scribe.
July 8, 2019
Great Summer Reading!
I liked this book because it was fun to read and very entertaining. Especially the trip through. Los Angeles. Don't pass it up.
I liked this book because it was fun to read and very entertaining. Especially the trip through. Los Angeles. Don't pass it up.
September 7, 2020
Throw it into the tar pits.
December 13, 2018
The story takes much too long to get started. Until it does, there can be no connection for the reader with events that occur early in the book; these events seem aimed at chronicling the L. A. lifestyle, already familiar to many and not all that engaging for a lot of us. The writing is not bad and in the future an effort to start the story at the beginning (or at least near the beginning), e. g. Man stalks serial killer - and ensuring ALL ensuing events advance the story will help.
November 27, 2018
This book reminded me of the SNL routine where the actors in LA keep talking about the directions they use to get from place to place. I don't know if the language was low to make the narration sound like the voice of a depthless 20-something, but I had to stop reading it. The word choices aggravated me.
May 7, 2020
The literary equivalent of the "Me, an intellectual:" meme.
July 19, 2023
Quite possibly the worst book I've ever read. Eighty percent of this drivel describes the Los Angles
freeway. And I did read it front to back after being warned by Goodreads reviewers.
freeway. And I did read it front to back after being warned by Goodreads reviewers.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews