Eve Babitz captured the voluptuous quality of L.A. in the1960s in a wildly original, totally unique voice.

These stories are time capsule gems, as poignant and startling today as they were when published in the early 1970s. Eve Babitz is not well known today, but she should be. Her first hand experiences in the L.A. cultural scene, translated into haunting fiction, are an unforgettable glimpse at a lost world and a magical time.

“Women want to be loved like roses. They spend hours perfecting their eyebrows and toes and inventing irresistible curls that fall by accident down the back of their necks from otherwise austere hair-dos. They want their lover to remember the way they held a glass. They want to haunt.”

Eve Babitz and Joan Didion books have become the ultimate cool girl summer read – and it’s obvious why.

Slow Days, Fast Company is an essay collection about Babitz’s life in 60s/70s Los Angeles. It’s a sharp and glamorous read as Babitz reflects on her LA party girl life and the friendships and relationships she’s forged with the famous, almost-famous and wannabes in the city.

With Babitz’s quick wit and brash humour, the experience of reading Slow Days, Fast Company feels akin to a gossip session with close friends – no details are spared! Babitz charms you with her ‘it girl’ persona and invites you into the dizzy atmosphere of palm trees, parties, cocktails and relaxation.

It’s very self-indulgent. At times, almost too much. As I neared the end of the book, I often found myself craving something of stronger substance.

For all the gossipy fun, Slow Days, Fast Company revolves around the consumption and excess of the rich. There’s mentions of dining out, donning the latest fashions, consuming illicit substances and the dropping of names. It’s also subtly racist towards the end. I was aware somewhat of Babitz’s shift to the conservative right in the later years but it made for uncomfortable reading, with the gals praising her novels online often glossing over it.

Her writing style, wit and voice are highly enjoyable as was the brief glimpse into the LA party scene and culture during that era. I can see why she’s made a resurgance as a lot of the themes she touches on are relevant to this day but while I found it a fun and intriguing read, I’m not in a hurry to pick up more Babitz.

RATING

★★★