Day of the Locust - Nathanael West BOOK REVIEW

[@asderc1]

I don't know if being a colour stops it being a film noir but for me Chinatown is the best of that genre.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

One of the best.

[@afonsolucas2219]

Chinatown is only impeded of being a Film Noir because it wasn’t made at the period of time when Film Noirs were being produced. As soon as the makers and audience realized the tropes and the existence of the Noir itself, it ceased to exist in it’s proper pure form. Everything after that is a descendant. Chinatown, then, categorizes itself as a Neo-Noir. Just as Blade Runner for example.

[@whitetuxmafiaandfilms5042]

I know it's unrelated to this specific video (I'll end up reading this book though, rbecause I end up reading all the books you mention). But I started reading sun and steel because of you and it's actually inspired me to work out. I get a lot of flack, mostly from family members about my weight and all that crap has been counter productive considering I feel like it's made me gain more weight. Sun and steel has actually helped me workout and improve myself in a positive way and I thank you so much for sharing that book with me and all the other life changing books. Keep doing what you're doing man!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

I'm going to do a video on just that subject - I'm very happy to hear that. Keep building - it's a lifelong journey.

[@MrFredstt]

Just wanted to thank you for the videos you make. Because of you, I've been able to expand my reading XD

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Thanks for watchin!

[@tayabunker3199]

This was a great video. I've been subscribed for a while and I can really see the growth you've had on this channel. I'm very surprised you don't have more subscribers because this video alone was a work of art. I can definitely see this channel growing and becoming popular very soon!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

That's very kind of you, thank you very much, it's a slow climb but yes it's going. No end in sight, thanks for watching!

[@sterlinghayden4096]

I have to give you credit for being about the only person reviewing this sublime novelette. . .completely relevant.

[@tomwestern4952]

You are one engaging speaker good sir. Keep them vids coming! Really enjoying the reviews - a never ending bunch of books to add to my collection.

[@jase180]

im loving sifting through your reviews at the moment...what a great choice, picked it up in my early twenties, sickeningly underrated author

[@michaelbrown2145]

I read this book when living in a beach shack in Fort Lauderdale, you can clearly draw parallels between Southern California and South Florida.

[@allofthemmilkingwithgreenf7493]

The aesthetic of this one was extraordinary beautiful. Currently reading Josef Škvorecký's The Cowards but I'm adding this one to my list. Also, are you planning on reviewing more of Knausgård's The Struggle series?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Eventually yes I am - glad you enjoyed

[@montanagal6958]

As I am listening, Montgomery Clift comes to mind as the embodiment of "Hollywood" and how it ruins the soul of man.

[@edeltraudbirmingham4331]

If only he'd stayed in theater... but then again, we probably wouldn't know his name if he had...

[@eriksoltvedt7552]

Omniscient, glorious - the all reading eye Malign, burning grace All rise - The views, you will bring Sons of booktube, bow in awe

[@thomastheobscure351]

Hey, sir, what about something by Joyce to celebrate Bloomsday?

[@crito451]

Have you read Miss Lonelyhearts? Day of the Locust pales in comparison.

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I also prefer Miss Lonelhearts. Both are five-star favorites of mine, but Lonelyhearts is superior, I agree.

[@jubalcalif9100]

I love both of those short novels by West but I totally agree that "Miss Lonelyhearts" is better than "The Day of the Locust" !!

[@nathanielmatychuk3400]

Love that high contrast black and white! Recent follower, keep up the great work!

[@hermanmelville3871]

Nate West could have been the American Joseph Conrad. Tragedy we didn't get more of his work. Also, check out James M. Cain's triumvirate of masterpieces "The Postman Always Rings Twice," "Double Indemnity" and "Mildred Pierce."

[@davelawson8699]

Postman always rings twice was awesome. I seen it at least 25 times. Years later I heard a story about in real life she was dating a gangster and her daughter shot the man.

[@jasonhodge9321]

Another great video! You open the video with one of the passages that I had highlighted. Hollywood Babylon has been on my "to read" pile for a long time. I might try to knock it out before you review it. Thanks for the videos!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Do it!!

[@taaad7746]

hey cliff have you read the Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski?

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yeah, it was ok

[@technologic21]

I loved the book, and enjoyed the movie. It's perfect depression/pandemic literature. It's a mirror in to the circus of all things Americana.

[@brianbecmer2336]

Also found my way to The Day of the Locust by way of Maron in his episode with Bruce Wagner. I recommend listening to that if you haven’t already. I had no idea who Wagner was prior to that but after listening I went and picked up his books I’m Losing You and Force Majeure. I’d say both are pretty much right up your alley.

[@vincethefilmnerd2059]

Consider doing a review of A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess?

[@grantwallace1882]

Going to start reading this book tonight. It was 75p on Google Books.

[@thewaywardpoet]

Great fuckin' review, man. All that was missing was Jerry Goldsmith's Love Theme from "Chinatown" in the background to enhance the mood. Terrific book, "Day of the Locust." By far, the best damn novel about LA (Hollywood in particular) ever written.

[@FISTFISHDOG]

Good to see you hit 9k subs fam keep it up :D

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

OVER 9000!!!!

[@Ryan_Ek2]

review DBZ Cliff lol

[@spicerc1244]

IIRC Faye is patronizing Homer to drink - not Tod. Though West interjects Homer into the narrative so abruptly that it's initially difficult to tell them apart.

[@xiomarsuigkeitenbarenfange6170]

The only thing that I want to try and talk you into doing is possibly keeping a photo of yourself framed next to the wine. Just to sort of be a smart ass. OR have someone paint a portrait of you (fan art) and then have that framed behind you on the wall. I may just have to paint one and see what you think. Just give it some thought. Are you planning to maybe write a book yourself? I have not done research. I just discovered you, so maybe you already have. I need to know more.

[@sterlinghayden4096]

Day of the Locust, really good you're right, wish I had a copy right here, right now.

[@billshire2681]

Didn't West die in a car crash coming back from Fitzgerald's funeral ?

[@jubalcalif9100]

No. West & his wife Eileen (they had only been married a few months) were killed near El Centro in Southern Calif on their return from a hunting trip in Mexico. West reportedly ran a stop sign. Sadly, F Scott Fitzgerald died the previous day in Hollywood. :-(

[@alfonsojimenez8840]

Hey if you're interested in a dark crime noir story I highly recommend Ed Brubaker's " The Fade Out". Great graphic novel . Murder story in golden age Hollywood. Check it out .

[@whitetuxmafiaandfilms5042]

Another good noir story (semi-noir) is Private Eye. I can't say it's better then food but it's certainly on the level of a really really good lunch

[@xiomarsuigkeitenbarenfange6170]

You are incapable of being neither dull or uninspired. Lucky is the person who knows you intimately or gets to watch you read. I find it hard to think that you would not gain wisdom through osmosis by watching you while you read.

[@LevianPeace]

One of my favorite. Thank you for the review.

[@Octa95]

Had you ever read any work of the argentinian authors Samanta Schweblin and Abelardo Castillo? I don't know if their works were translated in english, but I think so. If there's books in english of them, and you haven't read them... well, you should. And great video, by the way. (I'm sorrt if my english it isn't good).

[@billshire2681]

If you liked that one, check out 1900 or The Conformist....

[@GabeinBabylon]

You're a hunk and a half. Always excitedly checking my subscriptions box for updates on your channel. Your quality of content is unmatched. Keep it up, man.

[@daneschneider5790]

Sunset Boulevard

[@Ryan_Ek2]

I do want more movie reviews butttttt KZbin is saturated with film analysis channels so I'd be cool with you just sticking to books.

[@sterlinghayden4096]

RyanJE , absolutely we no need any more delusional movie reviews. How Faye.

[@francisbarrera9868]

The shadows in this video remind me of old film-noir classics like "Double Indemnity". Always on point with the aesthetics.

[@CakeForJack]

At 7:07 your pronunciation of "Tyrolean" is off. It's the demonym of a region of Northern Italy called "Tyrol" and should be pronounced "Tirrol-eyan". Normally I don't call people out on mispronounciation but I wanted to take the opportunity to mention Tyrol because it is a wonderful and gorgeous part of the world.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Just looked up a photo of it - you ain't kiddin, that'll be a place to go before I die.

[@tommy_tombstones]

Maybe The Master and Margarita or A Confederacy of Dunces review in the near future?

[@rancorcell]

wow, can't believe you read this one......very cool.

[@billshire2681]

It's CHINATOWN, Jake !

[@billshire2681]

Adaptation is way better than Casablanca

[@VertPimpin]

Why no Grendel? Poor ol' Grendel needs his POV shared. To be fair, got my N. West in the mail.

[@michaelreilly2403]

His commentary belongs in the lacuna where the great unknown & LIVED Maniacally author David E. elliot 's LISTEN TO THE SILENCE awaits the reality of goin nowhere...YET Elliot is pure humane being !This guy...(ahem clear my throat)

[@madamimadamimadam]

I'm genuinely surprised you didn't even mention Homer Simpson. He's arguably the most important character in the book and he commits the act that finally turns the crowd outside the theater into a bloodthirsty mob at the end of the book. Nineteen minutes and you didn't say his name once.

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yes I think that was a mistake - he is an important character, thanks for catching that.

[@madamimadamimadam]

Ah, I'm just nit-picking. Glad to see some love for Nathanael West.

[@Ryan_Ek2]

D'oh!

[@jubalcalif9100]

@@Ryan_Ek2 Ha !! :-)

[@pabstabilly]

How do I request a review? You should read/review the late Colin Wilson's 'World of Violence. He wrote The Outsiders, which was non-fiction, like an extended essay about the evolution of the anti-hero and existentialism. He wrote a lot of pulp(ish) literature, fiction and non-fiction (Space Vampires - fiction, and The Supernatural - nonfiction), but World of Violence is stands out among his two best works. That and, Ritual in the Dark. The story follows a young prodigal math genius as he realizes the world is flawed and people are like cattle in their pursuit of mindless happiness. As he reaches adolescence, fate conspires to give him the opportunity to both exert some moral influence on the world around him and, at the same time, indulge a darker fascination with exerting his will and by taking a human life. Will he? Won't he? It's set in England in the 1950's. Guns are virtually illegal in England (to this day) unless you're in a gun club, so it adds a certain 'gun-glamor' to the mood of the book as he sets about smuggling a pistol out of the gun club to use to overcome a gang of local bullies. Nerd versus gang of ruffians in existential 1950's northern England. Top notch!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Got 'outsider and occult goin right now - appreciate it!

[@marclayne9261]

I lived in Portland, Oldtown, Chinatown....until criminals took over the streets.....

[@devynkennedy904]

Naked Lunch? Or, better yet, Gravity's Rainbow.

[@RB939393]

POL POT POL POT POL POT

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

*unh*

[@starayapitza4260]

hello from Russia! I'm kinda in love with your beautiful rewiews ( especially one about "Ada, or Ardor by Nabokov ! Abslolutely one of my favourites books! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Great summer read - appreciate the kind words, keep watching.

[@billshire2681]

Hey, man. At least he was SJ Perelman's cousin. The West is the best. Jimmy knew.

[@brandonstanley9125]

DK. Nice.

[@caballerokebab]

Favourite film noir: Touch of Evil.

[@halbiggiam3320]

Out of the Past- excellent noir, partial to Robert Mitchum. Touch of Evil- best [opening] one shot ever filmed. Wells was genius.

[@wp6007]

The thumbnail and content of the book don't seem related.

[@markr3716]

hahaha

[@briang8766]

Nice rant. F*cking wine though? Ew yuk! 🤢👎

[@grantjohnson697]

Dead Kennedy's!!!

[@BetterThanFoodBookReviews]

Yeeeeeaaaa!!

[@michaelreilly2403]

this guy is a insult to West! How boring & presumptuously unconnected to any theme or like he says "WHAT WAS I TALKING ABOUT?" comment review... a cartoon could say more.drawn by CHARLY that won Cliff Robertson the academy award!! anyone can be a critic huh? christ...makes a guy wish he was religious...

[@bloodbath2181]

This guy is so annoying