ARTiCHOKE
*
It's official! Love, West Hollywood: Reflections of Los Angeles has hit select bookshelves, featuring a selection from yours truly. (Me.) It can also be ordered on Amazon.com - here.
For those who don't know, I was asked to contribute to this book, the L.A.-based entry in a series, which features a very broad spectrum of different writers of all ages and ethnicities, most of whom are much more important and influential than I am. The focus of the book is primarily on the gay history of Los Angeles, but even if that's not your thing - it's not necessarily mine, either - there is some pretty interesting material. I've only had a chance to read a handful of the other essays so far, but what I've read, I've liked. There's a really fascinating chapter about the aging Lucille Ball - not the happy housewife you see on TV, but a sad and somewhat bitter woman who is crying when we first meet her. There's another really captivating piece about a woman who walks the streets nightly doing what she can to help young, drug-addicted prostitutes - almost like a superhero, except that more often than not, she can't save them. I'll be the first to say that I've never had any interest in reading about L.A.'s gay history, hearing from gay activists, or reading work targeted toward a gay demographic. But what I have read so far has given me a deeper understanding of the rich history of this city, which I think will interest anyone regardless of their sexual preferences. There's a lot I didn't know and never thought about, but even after reading just a couple essays I have a much bigger appreciation of the people and events they discuss.
Those of you who know me pretty well might even find it funny that I am part of a book called Love, West Hollywood, since I have more often uttered a very contrary opinion of the place. But the points of view of the book come from both ends of the spectrum. My chapter is titled "art(i)choke," and deals primarily with my freshman year in college. One of the editors says it's about how Los Angeles can eat you alive, which I think is a nice hook. My piece is very different from anything else I've read in the book so far, stylistically and in terms of content - those of you who have been reading my journal over the years will find my long-winded self-analysis very familiar. The fact that my piece has no historical significance and deals with internal struggles rather than external ones is telling, I think, of the progress that has been made in this city that my generation takes for granted.
Until I held the book in my hands I did not realize what an honor it would be to be published in a volume with people who have contributed so much and done so much in their lives. It's great to meet them and to discuss their work...and mine! I was too focused on my own piece for a long time to really think about anybody else in the book, but now that I have read the others I am convinced that my inclusion was a mistake. Regardless, I would very much appreciate everyone's support in buying (and possibly even reading) the book. It is $16.95 or less, which will cost you far less than the lifetime's worth of resentment you will get from me if you don't, I assure you.
I may be doing some readings and whatnot with the other writers in a couple bookstores next month, so I'll keep everyone posted on that. 'Til then, thanks for all your support and encouragement!
It's official! Love, West Hollywood: Reflections of Los Angeles has hit select bookshelves, featuring a selection from yours truly. (Me.) It can also be ordered on Amazon.com - here.
For those who don't know, I was asked to contribute to this book, the L.A.-based entry in a series, which features a very broad spectrum of different writers of all ages and ethnicities, most of whom are much more important and influential than I am. The focus of the book is primarily on the gay history of Los Angeles, but even if that's not your thing - it's not necessarily mine, either - there is some pretty interesting material. I've only had a chance to read a handful of the other essays so far, but what I've read, I've liked. There's a really fascinating chapter about the aging Lucille Ball - not the happy housewife you see on TV, but a sad and somewhat bitter woman who is crying when we first meet her. There's another really captivating piece about a woman who walks the streets nightly doing what she can to help young, drug-addicted prostitutes - almost like a superhero, except that more often than not, she can't save them. I'll be the first to say that I've never had any interest in reading about L.A.'s gay history, hearing from gay activists, or reading work targeted toward a gay demographic. But what I have read so far has given me a deeper understanding of the rich history of this city, which I think will interest anyone regardless of their sexual preferences. There's a lot I didn't know and never thought about, but even after reading just a couple essays I have a much bigger appreciation of the people and events they discuss.
Those of you who know me pretty well might even find it funny that I am part of a book called Love, West Hollywood, since I have more often uttered a very contrary opinion of the place. But the points of view of the book come from both ends of the spectrum. My chapter is titled "art(i)choke," and deals primarily with my freshman year in college. One of the editors says it's about how Los Angeles can eat you alive, which I think is a nice hook. My piece is very different from anything else I've read in the book so far, stylistically and in terms of content - those of you who have been reading my journal over the years will find my long-winded self-analysis very familiar. The fact that my piece has no historical significance and deals with internal struggles rather than external ones is telling, I think, of the progress that has been made in this city that my generation takes for granted.
Until I held the book in my hands I did not realize what an honor it would be to be published in a volume with people who have contributed so much and done so much in their lives. It's great to meet them and to discuss their work...and mine! I was too focused on my own piece for a long time to really think about anybody else in the book, but now that I have read the others I am convinced that my inclusion was a mistake. Regardless, I would very much appreciate everyone's support in buying (and possibly even reading) the book. It is $16.95 or less, which will cost you far less than the lifetime's worth of resentment you will get from me if you don't, I assure you.
I may be doing some readings and whatnot with the other writers in a couple bookstores next month, so I'll keep everyone posted on that. 'Til then, thanks for all your support and encouragement!