Customer Reviews

Coast of Dreams

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I always approach books like this with some caution. A book on the history of California from 1990-2003 is a pretty expansive subject to cover with any reasonable depth, and too often, books like this can be dense and tedious to get through. Thankfully, this was rarely the case with Coast of Dreams, which I found to be very readable, and (gasp) at times quite entertaining.

Of course at over 600 pages, it is certainly a lot to digest. And Starr can certainly discuss virtually any subject about California with a lot of detail, and he does here. And it his enthusiasm and love for the state, warts and all, that really drives this book.

Starr is completely unafraid to expose the bad side of California. Some of the chapters on crime and gang warfare that were particularly acute in the early 90's were harrowing and difficult to read. Starr has a good grasp of the unique brand of California politics, that sometimes yields rather unusual and unique results, such as the power deregulation crisis and Schwarzeneggar becoming Governor.

On the other hand, Starr clearly enjoys writing about the unqiue elements that draws so many people to the state. Whether writing about the trendy areas of San Francisco or Los Angeles, or for the seemingly mundane opportunities that draw so many illegal immigrants, Starr shows the state has historically been for dreamers large and small. Whether California can continue to sustain all these dreams is an underlying theme of the book.

As someone who came to California from the Midwest, I found the considerable time invested reading Coast of Dreams was well worth the new found connection I have to the state of California.

So this was California, in the years 1990 to 2004. Having lived in Los Angeles during that time, I could readily relate to much of what Starr wrote, especially when he talked about this city.

A long book, but you don't have to read it at one sitting. It's well suited to you leisurely reading chapter by chapter, at your own pace. Myriad aspects of California are covered. Though, as someone else remarked, Starr says little about California north of San Francisco. The book is about events in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and a little bit on San Diego and the Central Valley. The narrative style lends itself well to drawing in the reader in an engaging fashion. Which bodes well in future years, when others who then read it will have been born long after all these events. The contemporaneous account given by Starr should endure as a lasting contribution to the historical record.

For Los Angeles, the early 90s get considerable play. Especially with the 1992 race riot and the 94 Northridge quake. All overlaid on a statewide recession, exacerbated by overbuilding and aerospace shrinking after the end of the Cold War.

Naturally, Starr delves into the dot com saga. Centred on Silicon Valley, "dreaming dreams of endless wealth". Of course, you can find entire books devoted to this era. But the chapter in this book suffices well to convey the strange feeling in the air, and all that money! An envious reader could speculate as to whether it might all happen again.

If you do happen to like this book, consider checking out his earlier texts. He has written a slew of these on various aspects of California history. Most with the same fluid grace of the present book. An enjoyable way to learn more about California.

Not so much a history as it is a social documentary on the events shaping California at the turn of the millennium. Kevin Starr represents a lot of different aspects of California culture and politics, how the two come together and how the two diverge, in a series of sections that more or less cover different issuesimpacting the state. The book starts out a little pell mell, but takes shape in the middle sections, especially when he gets to "Wedge Issues." Here, he talks about the various propositions that were put forward in the 90's that divided the state politically, including an attempt to literally divide the state into three states. However, what seems to prevail in this narrative is the positivism of Californians, their ability to adapt to a constantly shifting natural and social landscape. The immigration chapters explain the various contemporary patterns, the new alignments that have emerged, and how California has come to find itself more closely wed to Mexico both culturally and economically. Attempts at closing off the border have repeatedly failed, and Starr illustrates just how much immigration has helped the state, rather than hurt it, particularly in how San Diego and Tijuana have become virtually intertwined.

Hollywood takes a back seat role in this contemporary history, which surprised me, yet you always see it lurking beneath the surface, especially in his numerous references to films that most readers would be aware of. What he does focus on is how small business is the driving force in California, illustrating how Silicon and Napa Valleys rose from cottage industries into leading world conglomerates. He also talks about how California was able to retool itself following the closure of military bases and loss of defense contracts in the 90's.

The impelling aspect of this book, however, is how cultural diversity has shaped the state, and how it continues to do so. He takes a look at the nature of development in the state, how communities have been impacted by immigration, the tensions that have arisen, the white flight, and eventually resettlement. Starr mostly deals with southern California, but takes in the Bay Area as well. You don't get much sense of what is occurring further to the north, with little more than passing references to Sacramento. To Starr's credit, he doesn't try to contain himself, but instead lay out a mosaic of impressions of the state, showing how California is constantly evolving and reshaping itself.

There aren't many nooks and crannies that Kevin Starr doesn't explore in Coast of Dreams, a history of California from 1990 - 2003. I moved to California in 1990 and live here still and was surprised by how many events I had forgotten. The 1990's were a perilous time for urban California and the new century has proven no easier. Starr recounts the troubles that have beseiged the state and his prognosis is interesting given the exacerbation of California's problems from 2004 to today.

It is truly a state in dire circumstance and Starr's effort at analysis is commendable, though I felt he could have spent more time on the state legislature which, through venality and incompetence, is primarily answerable for the total breakdown in responsible governance. This isn't an ideological criticism, it is a testament to the complete absense of leadership. Some $25 billion in debt, California is now tied with Louisiana for the lowest credit rating among the states.

Not that the executive office is free from blame and neither, I might add, are the voters. Despite the difference in physical stature, Gray Davis and Arnold Schwarzenegger are virtually the same person when it comes to "deer in the headlights" ineffectiveness. Impotently watching business flee and revenue decline is hardly a game plan for success. And, California voters, through the years, have repeatedly approved billion dollar bond issues to fund programs the state clearly could not and cannot afford. From where, they might ask, come the interest payments?

But, Coast of Dreams isn't just about government. It is, essentially, about culture. Specifically, the mix of cultures that still bring a vibrancy and strength to the state. California's beauty is unquestionable, its weather unmatched, and its cities, despite adversity, world-class. What a shame that we find ourselves so deeply in trouble.

But, there is hope yet. Recently, voters rejected tax increases that would have let state government off the hook. For too long, California legislators, through gerrymandering and sleight of hand, have clung to power without any comeuppance. They've dug the hole with profligate spending and a "tomorrow never comes" mentality. Perhaps now they'll notice that tomorrow is here for, when the cupboard is bare, it isn't time to reduce the budgeted spending increase, it's time, come what may, to slash the budget. There's simply no way forward that doesn't include buckets and buckets of pain.

One hopes (perhaps irredeemably) that Kevin Starr's next installment of California history can chart the state's path back to greatness. Having lived in every geographical region of the US prior to arriving in California, it is my opinion that our dynamic, polyglot population inhabits one of the more spectacular and invigorating landscapes available. It is an exciting place. Indeed, should we ever get past what appears to be this abiding dysfunction, California may once again become the Golden State.

Coast of Dreams is a must-read for every Californian and for every American with a tie to the state. That there can be so much tragedy and beauty within it, makes for compelling reading. In Coast of Dreams, Kevin Starr's effort at impartiality is appreciated, his range impressive, and his talent on full display. 5+ stars.

Dense reading that requires some patience but worth the effort if you are curious. Well documented and full of facts and numbers. Great information on socio-cultural aspects of California.

A reader of Mr. Starr's book pointed out a glaring error concerning the history of Palm Springs where the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla has more than 31,500 acres spreading across several cities. On page 330, he makes the mistake of saying "The Cabazon Band of Cahuilla (sic) operated the Fantasy Springs Casino complex in downtown Palm Springs and held commanding portions of Palm Springs real estate."

I assume he is talking about the Agua Caliente people, since the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians and their Fantasy Springs Casino Resort is in Indio, Calif., in the valley to the East. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians operates two hotels and two casinos, one of which is the Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs. He chooses to leave out that the origination of Palm Springs is its hot springs, and namesake for the Agua Caliente, who operated a bath house (hence, the Spa) that originally attracted Anglos to settle in the area.

I do hope the rest of Coast of Dreams has been fact-checked.