The Day of the Locust

Nathanael West created a haunting, eminently readable novel in 1939. The real twist is that the tale resonates today. West's keen and prescient evaluation of the dark side of L.A. stands up to contemporary times. It is a city that is complex: extremes of wealth and poverty, a city of dreams and nightmares, a place of competition and sublimation, where almost every facet of the city is touched by the "industry" of film with its vapor trail of glamour and beauty. The protagonist, Tod Hackett, is a frustrated commercial artist working for the movie studios, a "sellout" according to his art school compatriots back on the East Coast. The narrator's voice never fails to reflect the immediate events around him with fluidity and insight, key to the book's readability. Tod's philosophical examination and keen insight into his adopted City of Angels encompasses the city's unique role as a destination of dreamers that can deteriorate into a nightmare as the distinctions become clear between those that "made it," those that think they're going to make it, and those that know they aren't. Tod's experiences with various characters in Hollywood could itself make a movie (and, indeed, has): the capricious survivor Faye Greener and her worn-out father Harry; contentious dwarf Abe Kusich, drugstore cowboy Earle Shoop, and perhaps the most complex and troubled character, Homer Simpson, a Midwest emigrant to the "promised land" who also is briefly a narrator. Throughout various scenarios ranging from religious revivals, movie openings, the business of a bordello, and the everyday ephemera known as life, West creates a memorable portrait of a man who is seeking something that perhaps can never be found. Tod is overwhelmed with nihilism but seeks to temper it with a dual objectification and repulsion towards Faye Greener. Perhaps what West creates most movingly is a portrait of L.A.- the excitement, the grunge, the messiness, the beauty of it all juxtaposed with the fairy tale meeting cold reality. With so few "making it" L.A. is a city filled with those who believe they are one step away from success, or have more chillingly, resigned themselves to feeding off the city and its inhabitants through various means. You have to be hungry, smart, and relentless to make it in L.A. Behind the sunshine and palm trees lies a spirit of fierce competition and brutal one-upmanship. I would strongly recommend this book for its straightforward yet beautifully insightful prose, and the unforgettable characterization of Tod Hackett, perhaps one of my favorite male narrators outside of Holden Caulfield. Entertaining, witty, and realistic, "The Day of the Locust" doesn't have a Hollywood ending. But would we want it to?

It's an interesting story and the writing is good but I think the story might have been better suited for its time. Most of the characters were basically one aspect caricatures and didn't bring a whole lot to the story. It was enjoyable enough however and I wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it.

Maybe i have no sense of humor, but i did not find this funny. This one was painful to read and sickening at times, like an ugly gaping wound full of grit and blood and pus and scab. You don't want to look at it. You think you know what caused it. And in the end you know that you have to expose that thing to clean water and air and let it heal.

The Day of the Locust is well worth the read. However, if you can find another edition of the book, I would recommend purchasing that version. This copy, from Indo-European Publishing, is full of obvious typos. It's pretty clear that no one took the time to read through the typed-up text before publishing edition, as I was able to pick up on a ton of errors just by skimming through this edition. I've seen another edition of this book at a library that didn't have the typos, so I'm sure they're not an intentional part of the text, just mistakes on the part of the publisher. I purchased this version for a class because, at the time, it was the only edition available on Amazon. DON'T BUY THIS VERSION UNLESS YOU HAVE NO OTHER OPTIONS!

The Day of the Locust book is perfect for me as there’s no missing pages or any damages that affect my ability to read the book. Strongly recommend to trust this product as what it states.

good condition

I feel that Days of the Locust is a book that hasn't aged particularly well. Set during Hollywood in the early 1930's, the story follows a number of characters, including shallow aspiring actresses, aging vaudeville performers, and your typical rich snobs. I manage to get about halfway through the book before I gave up on it. West's characters extremely one-dimensional stereotypes, and his wit is dry as a bone. In an age when shows like 30 rock have been on the air for years, nothing about this book feels special or enjoyable.

NOTE: This review is for the Indo-European Publications edition of this book. I am reviewing this specific edition, which is horrible, not the story itself, which is great. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK!!! It is full of misspellings and typos, all of which are distracting and make one wonder if there are other major errors and omissions that would go unnoticed by someone not familiar with the story. The novel deserves much better than this. Find a better publisher, and enjoy the book!