From the struggle of working-class Angelenos, to the star-studded, escapist fantasy of celebrity, to the self-reflective nostalgia of old Hollywood, three new books by Southern California authors interrogate the eternal theme of Hollywood intrigue. Each tells differing stories with unique perspectives, but they share the same conversation about the lore and mythology of Tinseltown:
In the novel “Hollywoodki,” longtime LA bard Lou Matthews introduces readers to Dale Davis, a writer whose rags-to-riches-to-rags-again story is all too common in the fickle landscape of Hollywood. Despite the fading of his once-bright star, Dale still has hope that his next big break is around the corner. “Hollywoodki” speaks to Los Angeles’ shadows, the hustle to succeed, and the grittier realities of a city that is both enamored with and skeptical of the entertainment industry.
“When the Stars Align” by Melissa de la Cruz, slated for a May release from Mindy Kaling’s imprint with Amazon, takes on pop culture in a story about three prominent teen superstars and their falls from grace: a wild-child movie star, the socialite daughter of billionaire hoteliers, and the mega pop star whose controlling parents took everything away. The girls turn into women and must confront how their youth has shaped their modern lives. The novel taps into the romantic, fairytale-like quality that many seek in the promise of Hollywood, while showing the rigors of life under the scrutiny of fame.
In “Golden Hour: A Story of a Family and Power in Hollywood” by Matthew Specktor, coming to bookstores in April, the author illuminates the age-old struggle between art and commerce. Specktor, the son of legendary CAA agent Fred Spector, has a unique perspective on living and working in Hollywood. Part memoir and part cultural criticism, “Golden Hour” blends intimate family drama with the history of how Hollywood grew into what we know it as today. Specktor renders a fascinating portrayal of those in and just outside of the spotlight. The book balances nostalgia with thoughtful critiques, where the stories about Hollywood’s golden years also weigh the real costs to the people who lived through them.