Name: Black Swans
Rating: 3.780769230769231 (65 reviews)
ISBN: 9781640090507

Eve Babitz

Stephanie Danler

A new reissue of Babitz’s collection of nine stories that look back on the 1980s and early 1990s--decades of dreams, drink, and glimpses of a changing world. Black Swans further celebrates the phenomenon of Eve Babitz, cementing her reputation as the voice of a generation. With an introduction by Stephanie Danler, bestselling author of Sweetbitter.

Stories

Black Swans

it wasn’t a revolutionary 5 stars but i also completely enjoyed it and have zero complaints. like reading bukowski or jim harrison but without the sexism (mostly).   eve is so human and i think the reasons why some people don’t like her writing (her “self absorption” and “flaws”) are some of the very reasons why i do.

Kat Albanese

obsessed with her…. many moments while reading this where i was struck with how accurately she is able to describe the feeling of being in your 20s, being an artist.. being a girl … being sexy as hell 

mallorie 🦌

reann

Oh to be an it girl in the 70s-80s LA!! Living vicariously through each pages 😩😩

Favorite chapters/stories: Self-Enchanted City, Expensive Regrets, and Black Swans

I never want to read about the tango or LA ever again. Last essay was good though 

Regan Martin

Babitz’s writing style is present-minded, honest, naive, and at times entertaining and funny. She’s a good storyteller but overall just not for me. I found her perspective to be shallow and vapid (maybe the point?), leaving more substance to be desired. At worst, her writing is self-absorbed, lacking political consciousness or social awareness. I didn’t pick this book up for ground-breaking social commentary but still some of these essays really did not age well. I enjoyed the less flagrantly offensive ones like Tangoland and Black Swans. I’m willing to give one of her fiction books a try before I write her off as a pass for me.

Rebecca Lum

fern

This is my second time reading Black Swans, and it just keeps getting better and better. Eve Babitz captures L.A so poetically and recounts situations with such vivid detail. I will volunteer to read her grocery list at this point. 

Unapologetically honest, these collection of essays where brilliant and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

jaz ☁️

This is my second time reading Black Swans, and it just keeps getting better and better. Eve Babitz captures L.A so poetically and recounts situations with such vivid detail. I will volunteer to read her grocery list at this point. 

Unapologetically honest, these collection of essays where brilliant and I look forward to reading more of her work. 

Black Swans Stories

Reviews

Highlights