Los Angeles Stories

Celebrated musician Cooder%E2%80%99s engaging, but forgettable, collection captures L.A.%E2%80%99s gritty music scene during and after WW II, featuring stories of working-class Angelenos who become embroiled in homicides, car thefts, and other activities related to the %E2%80%9Cbright boys%E2%80%9D (gangsters) moving to the city from Vegas. In %E2%80%9CAll in a Day's Work,%E2%80%9D the highlight of the collection, a 38-year-old man trying to register people and businesses for the Los Angeles City Directory becomes implicated in two murders. As a whole, the book resembles a fictional City Directory: a compendium of nuanced caricatures, affectionate portraits of historic neighborhoods, such as Chavez Ravine and Bunker Hill, with guest appearances by famous musicians like John Lee Hooker. %E2%80%9CKill me, por favor" portrays the archetypal young actress arriving in town to pursue fame and glory only to become violently disillusioned. Cooder%E2%80%99s knowledge of music permeates the book, and his talent is evident in his clean, precise prose, such as the description of his hometown, which "sparkled and hummed like a giant beehive." However, the stories lack the energy and intrigue of classic L.A. noir fiction, and are both repetitive and forgettable. Cooder%E2%80%99s writing style may pair better with a single, sustained narrative instead of vignettes. (Oct.)