What do you think?
Rate this book
All That Shines Under The Hollywood Sign
Writer Iris Berry has always been fascinated by the reality of modern-day Hollywood and its glittery history as Tinseltown, and in her new collection of poetry, All That Shines Under the Hollywood Sign, the two worlds collide. She marvels about the way jazz glides “its way/down translucent highways/at one in the morning” and “ephemeral evenings/draped across Hollywood” and rhapsodizes about such long-lost local landmarks as the Tropicana Motel and the Garden of Allah. Accompanied by evocative L.A.-centric illustrations by Scott Aicher. Berry’s portraits of vanishing and changing Southern California are often sentimental but infused with a rueful punk-rock perspective as she mulls over how “A catalog/of catastrophic events/shaped our lives. ~ Falling James, LA WEEKLY
120 pages, Paperback
Published November 11, 2019
3 people are currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Iris Berry
28 books23 followersIris Berry is one of the founding creative minds behind Punk Hostage Press. She is a native Angeleno who writes about her personal experiences from the sun baked asphalt
violent streets of Pacoima, running away to the allure of late 70’s Hollywood, at the age of 15,
looking for a better life against the historical backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline.
Her poetry and prose, as well as her performances in such memorable groups as the Lame Flames and the Ringling Sisters, are an integral part of L.A.'s contemporary literary movement. She has recently featured articles and interviews in Slake, her most recent being an in depth interview with Art Kunkin, the founder of the Los Angeles Free Press back in the early 60s.
Her latest book, The Daughters of Bastards, features some of her most intimate work she has shared with the public to date. A working title that she has compiled these personalized stories under for the last 10 years, these poems and stories represent a grappling with the idea of origin and the drift that occurs when the umbilical has been cut and the search begins for what might have been lost at the beginning.
It reflects her experiences and gives insight to some of her adventurous times growing up on the streets of Hollywood in the golden era of the LA punk rock scene.
“Iris Berry's frank and touching effort, The Daughters of Bastards, brings the radiant beauty of her poetic voice to the strange, funny, grotesque and poignant events of
a life lived in extremes, a journey to the end of night that ends with the break of luminous day.”
Richard Modiano –
Director of Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center
“I will not speak in cliché about Iris Berry, nor will I use unnecessary superlatives. When I think of this artist I think of enchantment and beauty. I think of intelligence and perspicacity. Iris is one fine talent honed by life and all the better for it. She writes with grace and strength
and allows you to live the moments she creates so that you not only wish you were there with her to experience life as she beholds it but for all intents you are there experiencing the ragged emotion and reality that
makes an Iris Berry work come to life.”
Larry Jaffe – Poet
“Iris Berry has no choice but to give witness. The universe ordained it with her birthplace and time and her path from there… the white chick from Pacoima with a hard edge and soft heart, the obedient princess reporting
observances of special climates at guarded campfires, whose journey spanned regions most others can only dream of. Iris is the only L.A. punk diva that survived the time's brutal but privileged initiations; from sitting
shotgun on suburban rides to sitting at her throne in the tinsel town underground with "the tick tick ticking" of her celluloid memory, saving it all for later, for her precision finesse in story telling… there is no other writer's witness that is as crucial to this city's history during its sexiest defiance, the punk rock Hollywood scene, as seen and transposed by a humble diva whose honesty reflects her deeply felt experiences told in a pure raw beauty of expression, weaving a noir that
only Iris has lived through and here shares with us until we sweat glitter, guitars, needles and leopard skin. And we marvel at her success in never losing that sexy sweetness only a true punk princess is born with: an
unconditional love and compassion for all things outside of the box.”
Yvonne de la Vega – Los Angeles poet/organizer -World Poetry Movement. Author of “Tomorrow, Yvonne – Poetry & Prose For Suicidal Egotists”
“There are far too few writers today who write from the heart about the damned. Far too few who let lost souls scream from the page once more. Iris Berry is one of these writers. Her words are haunting and her imagery
cinematic. Iris Berry is a straight Razor wrapped in a garter belt. She leaves nothing but her blood on the page."- Edaurdo Jones
violent streets of Pacoima, running away to the allure of late 70’s Hollywood, at the age of 15,
looking for a better life against the historical backdrop of the Los Angeles skyline.
Her poetry and prose, as well as her performances in such memorable groups as the Lame Flames and the Ringling Sisters, are an integral part of L.A.'s contemporary literary movement. She has recently featured articles and interviews in Slake, her most recent being an in depth interview with Art Kunkin, the founder of the Los Angeles Free Press back in the early 60s.
Her latest book, The Daughters of Bastards, features some of her most intimate work she has shared with the public to date. A working title that she has compiled these personalized stories under for the last 10 years, these poems and stories represent a grappling with the idea of origin and the drift that occurs when the umbilical has been cut and the search begins for what might have been lost at the beginning.
It reflects her experiences and gives insight to some of her adventurous times growing up on the streets of Hollywood in the golden era of the LA punk rock scene.
“Iris Berry's frank and touching effort, The Daughters of Bastards, brings the radiant beauty of her poetic voice to the strange, funny, grotesque and poignant events of
a life lived in extremes, a journey to the end of night that ends with the break of luminous day.”
Richard Modiano –
Director of Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center
“I will not speak in cliché about Iris Berry, nor will I use unnecessary superlatives. When I think of this artist I think of enchantment and beauty. I think of intelligence and perspicacity. Iris is one fine talent honed by life and all the better for it. She writes with grace and strength
and allows you to live the moments she creates so that you not only wish you were there with her to experience life as she beholds it but for all intents you are there experiencing the ragged emotion and reality that
makes an Iris Berry work come to life.”
Larry Jaffe – Poet
“Iris Berry has no choice but to give witness. The universe ordained it with her birthplace and time and her path from there… the white chick from Pacoima with a hard edge and soft heart, the obedient princess reporting
observances of special climates at guarded campfires, whose journey spanned regions most others can only dream of. Iris is the only L.A. punk diva that survived the time's brutal but privileged initiations; from sitting
shotgun on suburban rides to sitting at her throne in the tinsel town underground with "the tick tick ticking" of her celluloid memory, saving it all for later, for her precision finesse in story telling… there is no other writer's witness that is as crucial to this city's history during its sexiest defiance, the punk rock Hollywood scene, as seen and transposed by a humble diva whose honesty reflects her deeply felt experiences told in a pure raw beauty of expression, weaving a noir that
only Iris has lived through and here shares with us until we sweat glitter, guitars, needles and leopard skin. And we marvel at her success in never losing that sexy sweetness only a true punk princess is born with: an
unconditional love and compassion for all things outside of the box.”
Yvonne de la Vega – Los Angeles poet/organizer -World Poetry Movement. Author of “Tomorrow, Yvonne – Poetry & Prose For Suicidal Egotists”
“There are far too few writers today who write from the heart about the damned. Far too few who let lost souls scream from the page once more. Iris Berry is one of these writers. Her words are haunting and her imagery
cinematic. Iris Berry is a straight Razor wrapped in a garter belt. She leaves nothing but her blood on the page."- Edaurdo Jones
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 8, 2023
"All That Shines Under the Hollywood Sign", even the title is as poetic as these golden gems within!
This is a cut throat collection of glitter-glam , punch you in the face reality poems that is surely going to knock you for a whollop while you delightfully lick your wounds! This is a Must have collection from Iris Berry that is Tinseltown 's own literary leading lady! And does she have class! I have been a fan of her writing sinse the 90s and she has inspired me to pick up the proverbial pen myself! The Illustrations by Scott Archer thread All That Shines together in a way no other other book could be! Here is a modern classic, and just about he best offering a poet can give of themselves,this is surely one to add to your poetry and Iris Berry collection!
This is a cut throat collection of glitter-glam , punch you in the face reality poems that is surely going to knock you for a whollop while you delightfully lick your wounds! This is a Must have collection from Iris Berry that is Tinseltown 's own literary leading lady! And does she have class! I have been a fan of her writing sinse the 90s and she has inspired me to pick up the proverbial pen myself! The Illustrations by Scott Archer thread All That Shines together in a way no other other book could be! Here is a modern classic, and just about he best offering a poet can give of themselves,this is surely one to add to your poetry and Iris Berry collection!
Displaying 1 of 1 review