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

shaymaa

Although I don’t ever think I’ll get enough mangos in my life, eating one in the hot rain is one of the more perfect divine interventions. Mangos will make you forget anything but mangos.

At the time, I didn’t think it was a tragedy, Zack’s fall, but later I wondered if the tragedies in life are only about when you could have been great but weren’t.

mallorie 🦌

I couldn't believe he was really going to dump me, me who was so much fun and so tall and blond and wore such short skirts and had loved him so much and didn't look a thing like Virginia Woolf. 

This wasn't like being assigned an illustration, and then they never paid you until you threatened fourteen times to kill yourself. 

And I was in love with this book, which I felt I could have written myself. Which is one of the troubles with writing; people who love your writing already think they're you. They think if they sat down and wrote, it would be your book. Exactly what I thought about Walter. By the time poor Walter woke up, I was already so sure I was him and that he would naturally be in love with me. 

Joan Didion, who knew how to wear clothes, was too brilliant and great for anyone to write like, and too skinny and sultry to look like. 

1971- the year I realized that if I kept on being a freelance artist doing album covers, I was going to either starve or, worse yet, have to get married. (Getting a job didn't occur to me.) 

I couldn't act and wanted to be an artist or a writer like Françoise Sagan. And it seemed to me that all anyone had to do to become Françoise Sagan was to have a miserable love life and be kicked around and bored all the time. I figured I'd have to be an artist because, unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to be bored. With tons of arty friends and lovers for glamour and excitement, I kept forgetting I was supposed to be miserable, kicked around and bored. 

instead of his leaving me, I left him for horrible Peter, who I mistook for normal in one of my more insane judgements of character. 

It was as though summer had ended overnight without so much as a kiss good-bye.

The thing about me and my friends, though, is that we are the types who are such gluttons for narcissistic fantasies (being, most of us, born with that kind of charismatic shimmer that attracts a lot of what we used to call "fun.", before fun became in poor taste. In the balm of those sunshine days, in a land where winter never raises ugly questions about survival and canning vegetables, fun was all the truth we needed. 

Rebecca Lum

It's true, isn't it, that most of the decisions we make, how we define our values, needs, aspirations, are mostly a function of place? It's true of my life, the cities I've chased, captured, and had to leave.

libra venus

It uses words like “resentment,” “envy,” “mental uneasiness from suspicion,” and the effete “mood.” Nowhere does it have a word that lies in the gutter weeping into that serious intensity of red-hot black days and nights of raging hell that my friend Proust and I mean by jealousy.

Black Swans is a stimulating read that delves into the complexities of human perception and social dynamics. Babitz's writing style is captivating, drawing readers into her world and inner conflicts, which makes the storytelling nuanced and engaging. Throughout the narrative, the author skillfully navigates delicate and controversial topics, offering insights that prompt readers to re-examine their perspectives. I was surprised at how often I understood her stance on subjects, even when I had different sentiments.

The collection of stories is amusing, and the characters are well-developed. Some moments challenged me as a reader due to Eve's exploration of politically sensitive subjects, knowing she is somewhat politically naive, and that's why I gave a rating of four stars instead of five. Eve thought (for some "civilised" reason in her head) that the crowd was booing the "Israeli National Team" because they were Jews and not because they were land stealers, which is understood (but not forgiven by me). I enjoyed reading this. 

Black Swans is a stimulating read that delves into the complexities of human perception and social dynamics. Babitz's writing style is captivating, drawing readers into her world and inner conflicts, which makes the storytelling nuanced and engaging. Throughout the narrative, the author skillfully navigates delicate and controversial topics, offering insights that prompt readers to re-examine their perspectives. I was surprised at how often I understood her stance on subjects, even when I had different sentiments.

The collection of stories is amusing, and the characters are well-developed. Some moments challenged me as a reader due to Eve's exploration of politically sensitive subjects, knowing she is somewhat politically naive, and that's why I gave a rating of four stars instead of five. Eve thought (for some "civilised" reason in her head) that the crowd was booing the "Israeli National Team" because they were Jews and not because they were land stealers, which is understood (but not forgiven by me). I enjoyed reading this. 

Elisavet Rozaki 

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 

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

Sarah Pitts

can’t talk right now sorry i’m busy making eve babitz my entire personality

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.

fern

"Babitz’s talent for the brilliant line, honed to a point, never interferes with her feel for languid pleasures." —The New York Times Book Review 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. "On the page, Babitz is pure pleasure—a perpetual–motion machine of no–stakes elation and champagne fizz." —The New Yorker "[A] true original." —The Boston Globe "She’s a natural. Or gives every appearance of being one, her writing elevated yet slangy, bright, bouncy, cheerfully hedonistic—L.A. in it purest, most idealized form." —Vanity Fair "Babitz's writing is also like the jacaranda tree in glorious bloom—bewitching an entire city, but all too brief." —Los Angeles Review of Books

Isabella

i absolutely adore eve babitz's storytelling— the way her characters feel so human, her narratives so vivid. her voice was so clear and so confident. thank u audrey hope for the book rec

my favorites: free tibet, tangoland, black swans

wren

i dont think this was for me frankly bcz im not american nor interested in hollywood but it was beautiful anyway

Lisanne

Interesting stories but the racial elements left a bad taste in my mouth 

Sydney Alston

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. 

Natalie Patino

Although I enjoyed the writing style and noted some great quotes throughout, a lot of it felt rather shallow & self-absorbed. The heavy topics mentioned also lacked emotion and empathy keeping me rather removed.

fleabag

real hot girl hedonism things! it was fun to live these nine incredible captivating stories about eve's life while also being carried with a sense of familiarity throughout my reading like she is sharing these moments with me that feel so personal??? eve babitz is so cool i will definitely be reading more from her.

Black Swans Stories

Reviews

Highlights