Slow Days, Fast Company - Eve Babitz BOOK REVIEW | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Eve Babbits, a captivating writer from 1960s LA, blends personal memoir and social commentary in her book collection, providing a unique perspective on relationships, parties, and the allure of Hollywood.

Key Insights

• 💍 Eve Babbits was a captivating writer who passionately engaged in the social affairs of 1960s Los Angeles.
• 🥰 Her writing style is seductively casual and explores emotionally scorching love affairs and the LA lifestyle.
• 👯 Babbits had notable connections, experiences, and relationships with people such as Harrison Ford, Steve Martin, and Jim Morrison.
• 🥳 The title of her book collection reflects the paradoxical nature of LA, caught between slow days and fast-paced events.
• 💢 Babbits' writing about sex is not explicit but is compelling, tragic, and often internal, reflecting the complexity of being a woman in that era.
• 👾 She has a unique ability to capture the allure and pace of LA and the emotionally charged nature of relationships.
• 😀 Despite facing a serious accident and challenges, Babbits remains a survivor and a genius in her writing.

Transcript

Read and summarize the transcript of this video on Glasp Reader (beta).

Questions & Answers

Q: How does Eve Babbits approach her writing style in "Slow Days, Fast Company"?

Babbits maintains a seductively casual writing style, only impressed by what she allows herself to be. She passionately engages with the social affairs and relationships of LA, writing about her friends and emotional love affairs.

Q: Who were some of Eve Babbits' notable connections and influences?

Babbits had an interesting upbringing, with a violinist father and Stravinsky as her godfather. Her mother was ambitious and sought out parties with interesting people. She also had relationships with notable figures such as Harrison Ford, Steve Martin, and Jim Morrison.

Q: What is the significance of Babbits' book collection title, "Slow Days, Fast Company"?

The title reflects the paradoxical nature of LA, where time seems to be lost in traffic but also flies by in a city constantly changing. It captures the allure and pace of LA as well as the emotionally scorching love affairs that Babbits writes about.

Q: How does Eve Babbits approach the topic of sex in her writing?

Babbits writes about the art of sex but avoids explicit scenes. Her writing in this aspect is compelling, tragic, and often internal. She captures the exhaustion and exhilaration of being a woman in 1960s LA, chasing and being chased.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Eve Babbits is a fascinating writer who is passionately engaged in the social affairs of 1960s Los Angeles.

• Her collection of short stories, titled "Slow Days, Fast Company: The World, The Flesh, and LA," uses a clever device of addressing the man she wants to read her book.

• Babbits' writing explores emotionally scorching love affairs and offers a candid and seductive portrayal of the LA lifestyle.