What are L.A.'s. best books ever? Let the fighting begin

Los Angeles Times

16-04-2025

Good morning. Here's what you need to know to start your day.
At last year's Los Angeles Times Book Festival, the literary magazine Alta Journal posted advertisements around the USC campus asking 'What wine goes best with a Joan Didion anecdote?' It seemed made for this crowd, which takes the L.A. written word and their literary heroes very seriously.
Every few years, a publication or organization comes out with their list of the best books ever written about Los Angeles. They tend to include many of the same names: Didion, of course, Mike Davis, Octavia E. Butler, Paul Beatty, Raymond Chandler.
But in 2023, there was a flurry of activity on this front. The book festival was back in person and perhaps post-pandemic L.A. was ready to turn off the TV and crack open a book. Consider:
Here are some other L.A. best books guides I like:
And finally … You must take this 1981 Los Angeles literary quiz. It does not include some of the modern masters, but it's a lot of fun. Sample question: Which of the following leading men has not played Philip Marlowe on screen? a) Humphrey Bogart b) Robert Montgomery c) Robert Mitchum d) Paul Newman.
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Stephen Brown writes: 'It was the first concert for a twelve year old boy. I got my grandfather to take me to the Pan Pacific Auditorium in LA to see Elvis Presley. As Elvis entered to walk to the stage, which resembled a boxing ring surrounded on all sides by fans, the crowd went wild, girls screaming and everyone standing on folding chairs. My grandfather said 'This place has gone crazy, let's get out of here.' I pleaded and got him to change his mind. I saw the show standing on my chair, and began my life long love affair with live rock 'n roll.'
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Today's great photo is from Times contributor Marcus Ubungen at a meet up for car enthusiasts, which has become a space for Altadenans to reminisce about their lost cars.
Have a great day, from the Essential California team
Ryan Fonseca, reporterAndrew Campa, Sunday reporterKevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorHunter Clauss, multiplatform editorChristian Orozco, assistant editorKarim Doumar, head of newsletters
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