An Imaginary Real Place: Fragments of Los Angeles by a Longtime Visitor

A kaleidoscopic, intimate and sympathetic look at the many facets of America’s enormous and iconic city on the edge. Creative journalist and comedy writer Adam Gropman kept his eyes and ears open on his travels around greater LA, open for a story to appear, whether it be about an aspiring entertainer, a creative business person, a diligent raconteur or a citizen with something poignant to say about the condition of their city. All of these short pieces initially appeared, over the course of a decade, in the acclaimed LA Weekly newspaper. Gropman aims to transcend LA’s facade of upscale, glamorous paradise-on-Earth, and the converse image of urban decay and danger. The complex reality- socially, demographically, politically, creatively, ideologically and culturally- is usually something more nuanced and unexpected. This book is great for both outside tourists or dreamers wanting to know more about the city of movies, songs and TV shows; and the LA inhabitant (Angeleno) who is likely unaware of the many goings-on in their proverbial backyard.