Los Angeles

There's a good potted history of the LA Times in David Halberstam's media survey The Powers That Be

FWIW I hated City of Quartz true but too didactic/righteous

However, I'd have to disagree that LA more than any other city seems to be a character in literature. Certainly there are many more books set around New York, Paris, or London, with the city is the key. And rightfully so.

fiction
Walter Mosley-- Devil in a Blue Dress

authors:
Charles Bukowski
Wanda Coleman

But isn't this the nature off Marxist geographies? They are necessarily didactic and politically invested. That is one of points - that no history or geography can be apolitical or objective. And here i go getting all didactic...

So many L.A. threads.

Anyway...

I'm visiting L.A. - actually the West Coast! - this November for the first time on a short trip. My itinerary is really small...

One thing I'm wondering: what are the good bookstores, new or used? Where should I go? What place blew your mind?

lots of people will tell you The Last Bookstore but I personally prefer Iliad Books in North Hollywood. Easier to park near there if you're driving, and it's just a used bookstore and not an instagram tourist scene. Plus they have a couple of cats.

which is not to say TLB isn't very good too -- it has really good prices and a big selection.

Every time I visit the Iliad I come away with something. Skylight Books in Los Feliz is my fave place for new books. There are still a few neighborhood strip-mall used book stores in OC but none of these places are worth the trip.

Thanks for the recommendations; they're noted!