Los Angeles Without a Map

by Richard Rayner, Paula Kaurismäki (Translator)

Now a major film directed by Jim Jarsmuch, starring Saskia Reeves and Johnny Depp.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

Richard Rayner is a British author who now lives in Los Angeles. He was born on December 15, 1955 in the northern city of Bradford. Rayner attended schools in Yorkshire and Wales before studying philosophy and law at the University of Cambridge. He has worked as an editor at Time Out Magazine, in London, and later on the literary magazine Granta, then based in Cambridge.

Rayner is the author of nine books. His first, Los Angeles Without A Map, was published in 1988. Part-fiction, part-travelogue, this was turned into a movie L.A. Without a Map (for which Rayner co-wrote the screenplay with director Mika Kaurismaki) starring David Tennant, Vinessa Shaw, Julie Delpy, Vincent Gallo, and, in an uncredited part, Johnny Depp.
(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Radiantflux]

19th book for 2016.

In this 1980s book about Los Angeles there are no blacks or latinos, no police corruption or pretty much anything else, other than a self-aware comedic telling of an lost/desperate-loser Englishman's stalking of a Playboy bunny. This is a very short and narrow take on the city.

However, it is enjoyable for what it is, and captures a certain (limited) sense of the city. I would have given it three stars, but the end felt too forced and spoiled what was an otherwise enjoyable quick read.

[laila*]

in a deep west phase right now. this book occasionally reminded me of diary of an oxygen thief which says 1. that book is set too deep in my cerebellum for no reason and 2. the protagonist is so annoying sometimes i gagged for no reason at all. it’s a really pretty book though. stream of conscious and all flowy.

[Berta]

I've never been to LA, but I could perfectly be as lost as him.

I like the particular version and the comedy. But maybe too many strange characters. I literally was lost.

I love the Kaurismaki film more.

[Juan Rodriguez]

I read it because I saw it at an Airbnb I stayed at. Pretty cool LA centered book. It was aight.

[Sofie Sue Stephanie Rutgeerts]

Summung up events without a story

[Kang-Chun Cheng]

very stream of conscious type writing, about being young and dumb in LA

[The Ultracheese]

lo compré durante un viaje y le tengo cariño
me gusta pensar que tiene de autobiográfico aunque no tengo ni idea

[Jennifer]

Great book! Very funny!

[Jean]

highly entertaining in a Day of the Locust sort of way. Got to this via The Blue Suit, which I like even better.

[Lara]

Great read, highly entertaining and surreal made even better because its true

[James Aylott]

This was packed in my bag when I first came to Los Angeles from London in Jan 1994. It was quite a relatable read for someone new to LA.

[Mike]

Aimless.