Eve's Hollywood: week 2
Hello, readers!
This week I’ve read Richard Greene, the Violin Player all the way through Santa Sofia.
Babitz writes in such a smooth and unpretentious way that makes her writing easy to remember and hard to put down.
She’s so casual, so Southern California, so personable. I'm really enjoying this book, can you tell?
These chapters finish Babitz’s time at Le Conte Jr High and take her clear through Hollywood High. She recalls some boys that she went out with in Jr High, like Aces Butler, who allegedly stole cars and got imprisoned for stealing a yacht and trying to get to Tahiti.
Eve also explains that Hollywood High had astonishingly beautiful girls that weren’t really expected to do anything except be beautiful. She names her favorite of these girls, Carolyn, and finishes the chapter with the reveal of her death via accidental overdose on prescription pain pills for what I can only assume was endometriosis.
What really stands out to me about these chapters is he understanding of how close she was to danger at all times, especially at Roadside beach, or even just the risk of becoming a junkie like some of her peers. Babitz also mentions that at Hollywood High she learned that beauty is the ultimate power, and those who knew Eve described her as very beautiful (which she is, based on photos).
Maybe she knows or doesn’t know her immense privilege based on her looks and how many scrapes it got her out of. Nothing like a young, cute, white girl to narrowly escape consequence.
Did you like this segment? I’ve really had more fun reading Babitz than Didion. I’ve never read this book before but it feels fitting for June, so I'm glad I chose it.
Can you relate to any of her childhood stories? Her experiences with boys or the popular girls? It’s funny how universal it is, even sixty years later. Let me know your thoughts below— I’d love to chat!