Customer Reviews
Clever Trash - By: G. Montgomerie, 25 Aug 2006 
I read this book on the way back from my honeymoon. It is a lovely depraved bit of writing for its time (1939). A reallly easy read with lots of provocative writing - particularly the rape fantasies ofthe protagonist. I thought it was kinda like John Fante in the scheme of things. Recommended for someone who wants to read something posing as a classic but actuallly kind of trashy...
Unfulfilled desire - By: , 04 May 1999 
"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. West is trying to warn us alll about a society that is becoming so violent that the only entertainment is watching planes crash in a blazing heap from the sky. He dosen't take full of his oppurtunity, in my opinion this novel fallls just a little bit short. West is a good writer but not a great writer.
This gem of a book speaks volumes about Los Angeles - By: , 11 Apr 1999 
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 reallly the point in this period piece; the truth is in the characters & 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.
Good, not great - By: , 01 Mar 1999 The story was going so well. Characters were interesting & the sense of closure was near. Then ??? What happened? West needed to write another couple of chapters.
strange - By: , 09 Feb 1999 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 & almost enjoyable. The story flows nicely, but the end of the book left me asking, "Why did I just waste my time reading that?"
