The Day of the Locust
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
Tod Hackett is a brilliant young artist - and a man in danger of losing his heart. Brought to an LA studio as a set-designer, he is soon caught up in a fantasy world where the cult of celebrity rules.
But when he becomes besotted by the beautiful Faye, an aspiring actress and occasional call-girl, his dream rapidly becomes a nightmare. For, with little in the way of looks and no money to buy her time, Tod's desperate passion can only lead to frustration, disillusionment and rage...
About the Author
Nathanael West (1903-1940) - original name Nathan Weinstein (until 1926) American writer who died in a car crash at thirty-seven. Nathanael West published four novels.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this wonderfully crafted mini-novel, Nathanael West captures the cultural essence of boomtown Los Angeles during its tumultuous adolescence. The dark, coarse, seamy side of the "California dream" is vividly portrayed here. The plot is not really the point in this period piece; the truth is in the characters and their always unfortunate interactions. For those who seek to understand the social history of southern California, this novel might be more useful than a half-dozen academic treatises.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Nathanael West hits it right on the head. The subject matter of his most famous novel is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that it was written in the 1930's. What we take for granted as the sordid and seedy stories of Hollywood today are actually nothing new, but it takes a shrewd observer like West to show us how even the periphery of the glamour capitol can go down in flames. Perhaps the greatest single symbol is the hero's painting, titled "The Burning of Los Angeles". Think about that when you conjur images of Watts, Rodney King, Mark Fuhrman, and O.J. Simpson. I picked up this book when I saw it listed on the controversial "100 Greatest English-Language Novels of the 20th Century". Until then, I knew it only by reputation but it was well worth investigating. Nathanael West is the real godfather of Hollywood. A shame he is not around to comment on it today.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Great book, bad kindle version in that the lines don't fit the page even if I change the type size. Is there a way of remedying this? It's unreadable.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Bad kindle version
I agree with a comment from 9 months ago ( so obviously nothing has been done to rectify the situation) about the unreadable nature of the text. Read more
Published 9 days ago by Philippa Bambach
Unreadable due to terrible formatting
I Don't know if it's ju
st my kindle but
Like others I have a majo
r problem with the formatt
ing of this kindle edition. Read more
st my kindle but
Like others I have a majo
r problem with the formatt
ing of this kindle edition. Read more
Published 10 days ago by fishboy
Interesting story, terrible edition
I bought this, expecting an interesting read. And it is. Sort of. It's a bit of a disjointed narrative, but once you get used to it, it's not too bad (although not terribly... Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Pomfrett
Not the classic I was hoping for
I was quite surprised by some of the reviews of this book.It is often mentioned as a classic,but having just finished it,I would have to disagree. Read more
Published on 10 May 2010 by Milton Fontaine
Clever Trash
I read this book on the way back from my honeymoon. It is a lovely depraved bit of writing for its time (1939). Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2006 by G. Montgomerie
Unfulfilled desire
"Nothing short of violent rape would do" is Tod's line when he becomes frustrated with a whore's refusal to sleep with him. Violence is what this novel is abount. Read more
Published on 4 May 1999
Good, not great
The story was going so well. Characters were interesting and the sense of closure was near. Then ??? What happened? West needed to write another couple of chapters.
Published on 1 Mar 1999
strange
The Day of the Locust was required reading for me so that may be one of the reasons that I did read it. I did however find it easy to read and almost enjoyable. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 1999
This book is hauntingly incisive and terrifically good.
West's account of Los Angeles is a brilliant counter to the happy, celebrity-filled portrait of Hollywood that pervades the American consciousness. Read more
Published on 8 Dec 1998
Great book ruined by TV
No matter how good this book is, how can you take it seriously when one of its main characters is named "Homer Simpson"?
Published on 25 Nov 1998
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