Bright Shiny Morning by James Frey
4 out of 5
Bright Shiny Morning alternates between telling the history of Los Angeles and interweaving stories of present-day Los Angeles. Frey gives a voice to a wide range of characters, from the extremely wealthy inhabitants of Beverly Hills to the poor workers who clean their bathrooms. LA is a city I would never choose to live in, and BSM has plenty of examples why - the city is shown as a hot, sprawling parking lot that serves as a playground to the fake and superfake. However, LA has not always been such an undesirable city. The history chapters chronicle LA’s humble beginnings, and the events that led to its exponential expansion. If you like history, and you’re up for reading some depressing stories about categorical losers, this book is a must-read!
