You put this list up and we’re the first to take you on?

We thought that lists were made for people to pick apart and criticize (in a respectful manner as to suggest new reads and consideration of books that you may have read and forgot you did or that you didn’t think were that good.)

Oh well, here goes.

We’re the first to admit we’re not big readers, but we liked Post Office by Charles Bukowski.
(Though what is the deal with them publishing every noodle and limerick he ever did, it’s kind of weird?)
Post Office is an awesome Los Angeles read!!

And what about one of the books that Joan Didion wrote: Play It As It Lays?
Couldn’t be accused of being upbeat (it’s pretty scary), but short (short is good- Post Office is short, too) and heavy. Don’t read for a pick-me-up.

And how about a Jon Fante book? He wrote a bunch of them as a series, but you could start with Ask the Dust. It’s pretty short…and awesome!!

BTW, Post Office is about a drunk schmuck in the mid-cities, we think or maybe Venice, and takes place in the sixties.

Play It As It Lays is a one of those Hollywood and people are crazy books, takes place when it came out, early seventies.

Ask the Dust is takes place in downtown Los Angeles, and the main guy lives in Bunker Hill. The Bunker Hill before it was the big glass boxes, MOCA, Disney, etc. He lived in a dumpy apartment. Better than we describe here.

OK, this is fun- who else has something to add?