The American Dream in contemporary American literature about Los Angeles

Professional Development

Review Evaluation (20%)

James Cain, Mildred Pierce

On the grounds of literary merit, Mildred Pierce is a 'potboiler.' However, its tale of how a hardscrabble woman made a fortune through a chain of restaurants illustrates the American Dream, in terms of both of its good and bad sides. Pierce is a strong woman, but author Cain cannot allow her to be viewed as a heroine, because of her failure as a mother. Reflecting a common cultural stereotype, women are shown to be unable to be successful both in the business world and as 'real' women.

Walter Mosley, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned

Walter Mosley's work is a kind of film noir in prose. It features an African-American detective, Easy Rawlins. This book is important because it looks back at the formative classic era of Hollywood in Los Angeles through the eyes of a contemporary, American author and examines how the conventions and restrictions of that era impacted African-Americans. The effects of the war upon African-Americans have also not been addressed in film and fiction in such detail, except for Rawlins.

Q3. Yxta Maya Murray, Locas

A-. This novel shows another side to the Hollywood Dream. It is about Latino gangs and their impact upon the lives of young people. The dark underside of L.A. life is often forgotten. This book is particularly valuable because it shows L.A. life and poverty from a female perspective.

Q4. Budd Schulberg, What Makes Sammy Run?

A-. This book has crackling prose that suggests a funny Hollywood screwball satire. It is a cynical tale of how lies and deceit can cause someone to rise to the top of Hollywood. It has become a kind of prototype for amoral film narratives like The Sweet Smell of Success. Once again, it shows the dark side of the American Dream.

Q6. Nathanael West, The Day of the Locust

A+. This is a great work of literature. Its spare prose recalls Hemingway's style. And the book's cold, matter-of-fact, ironic style 'shows' but does not 'tell' the author's message: that the idea of success in Hollywood leads to people behaving in callous and immoral ways. West's book reads like a smart film, in terms of its use of dialogue. It shows the ruthlessness of people in pursuit of fame.

Q7. Karen Yamashita, Tropic of Orange

B. A humorous, apocalyptic novel that shows the members of the media so focused on 'getting a story' they do not fully appreciate the evils taking place around them, such as drug use and organ selling. The characters are deliberately cardboard and hard to identify with for the reader. But the story captures a kind of hard, satirical 'atmosphere' that is typical of the cynicism with which many people regard L.A.

Q8. Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man

B+. This novel tells the story of a gay man who has lost his lover and cannot acknowledge his loss publicly. The novel takes place over a single day. The comforts of California life are very cold for the lonely narrator, as he approaches Christmas alone. This shows how without personal fulfillment, Hollywood is a lonely place.