Recent Reads: Cults, Los Angeles, Patti Smith

Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan: A recommendation from my North Star of recommendations, Booktuber Carley Thorne (known as Uncarley on Youtube), and as always, it delivered. I was surprised to see how much criticism this book garnered on Goodreads. I felt the protagonist, Ava, was a realistic depiction of the hyper self aware, sexually/ emotionally confused 20 something that so many of us are these days, not some ignorant brat the reviews made her out to be. Throughout the story I could palpably feel her inner angst, not only about who she is and where she's going, but about the world around her. This book put many of my swirling, existential worries to page in a way I rarely see. 8.5/10

Cultish by Amanda Montell: As polarizing as society is right now, the line defining whether a group classifies as a cult or not a cult is blurrier than ever... Our current fascination has continued to mount as participation in traditional religious groups and other structured communities has dwindled. But humans still crave this sense of belonging, so we seek it elsewhere- in Soulcycle or Crossfit if our sanity is in tact, or in deep dark holes like QAnon if it's not. Cultish explores ideas through thoroughly researched stories on established cults and those who narrowly escaped them, juxtaposed with anecdotes from people that didn't realize they were in a cult until they had gotten out. Montell examines not only the history and psychology behind cults, but how the dangerous power behind their language and messaging has now pervaded everyday life. 8.5/10

Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl by Carrie Brownstein:

As a Portlandia fangirl with a newfound love of Sleater Kinney, this was a must read for me. Carrie writes in a way that is intelligent but non pretentious, dark while still infused with humor throughout. Her grittiness and deep sense of self really resonated with me, as well as her penchant for self deprecation. This memoir is a microscopic look at what it's like to build and sustain a successful rock band at the turn of the 21st century. I felt like I learned a lot about the music industry and the struggles female bands face to be treated equally, and I grew a stronger appreciation for the artists that commit their lives to these crafts. 8/10

Slow Days Fast Company by Eve Babitz: A slightly fictionalized

autobiography of the author, Slow Days Fast Company is a light satirization of LA culture peppered with anthropological insights on the world around her throughout. Eve Babitz is the ultimate symbol of 60s/70s California cool girl, and I can see why. I couldn't help but inserting myself in the story, wondering if she'd like me, if we'd get along, because she makes you want to be alongside her throughout her adventures. It's filled with stories about sex, love, disappointment, drugs, and parties that all but fully transport you into her world. 9/10

M Train by Patti Smith: Dubbed by the author herself as the book about nothing, Patti Smith manages to make it so poignant, seemingly without even trying. Her natural ability to draw the reader into her world, to make them feel the sense of melancholia that surrounds it, is nothing short of magic. She makes monotony poetic, solitude romantic, and provides a kaleidoscopic view into her peripatetic life, always circling back to her home base Cafe Ino (a locale that closes later in the story). There is a deep nostalgia and sense of longing that is peppered throughout, a reminder that we are existing not only in the present, but deeply in our pasts as well. 9.5/10

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton: I won't lie, this book is part of the reason I've never been so happy to be single in my life. Ghosts is centered around Nina, a successful 32 year old who seemingly 'has it all'. All she needs is to find her dream man, a quest that she believes she has achieved when she meets sturdy, rugged, seemingly stable Max through a dating app. Everything is storybook- he even declares upon their first time meeting that he'll marry Nina one day. All of a sudden she finally has it all, and then...out of nowhere, he ghosts her. The rest of the novel examines the fallout from this trauma, as she attempts to navigate an increasingly complicated personal life all the while. The story truly drives home the burden of societal expectations women in their 20s and 30s face, and it certainly drives home how shitty dating straight men can be. 7.5/10