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Jane Stephens Rosenthal Cooke's avatar

After the first few sentences I tossed it. I hated the feeling it gave me. I’m an LA woman and I like them both. Play It As It Lays AND Sex and Rage are two of my favorite novels. And Eve knowing how to talk about the beach and the Mexican food is just top.

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Tor Rose's avatar

100% would much rather read Eve Babitz herself than Lili Anolik’s version — I loved Sex and Rage!

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Jane Stephens Rosenthal Cooke's avatar

Agreed!!

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Peter Maguire's avatar

My mom knew both of them and gave it to me. I couldn't get through it. I am biased towards Didion, but do not think that Babitz was in her league.

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Caroline Beuley's avatar

ahhhh I've only read the first chapter and then I got too busy with school reading. Now I need to finish it and let you know what I think. I do rankle at the idea of pitting women against each other like that for a story though

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Logan Darrow's avatar

I just finished reading it and I didn't get that feeling from it at all, and I had already read both Didion and Babitz.

It did seem like Eve let Anolik more deeply into her life, both before and after death, perhaps that is why she shows more empathy to her.

These two women were so different though - the only thing linking them being a few mutual friends and the city of LA.

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Alexa Yasmin Ferrer's avatar

The dedication being to Eve’s mother /:

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BGM's avatar

Could not agree more. I couldn’t finish Hollywood’s Eve. Conspiracy, tabloid, self-important, and just poor writing. If Lili Anolik has no haters, we’re dead. I cannot stand her work either, so this was thrilling to read.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Oh jeeeez...I was gonna give her a read but I trust you that she sucks. Yikes.

I still want to give the Anolik book a quick gander to see what the hype is about.

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Tor Rose's avatar

Godspeed!!

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BGM's avatar

Save the money and listen to the audiobook for free on Spotify until you inevitably rage quit.

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Gary Trujillo's avatar

Oh fuck it's on Spotify!? Thanks for the heads up...

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