Love in L.A. Handout ?

Setting: It is set during a traffic jam on the Hollywood freeway on a foggy summer morning.

Characters: Jake and Mariana

Synopsis: The story begins with a young man named Jake stuck in traffic on the Hollywood freeway. As he drives, Jake takes stock of his life and is unimpressed with his current state. His thoughts stray absentmindedly to material possessions that he covets, such as a new car and exotic colognes. He becomes so absorbed in his thoughts that he causes a minor car accident. Jake considers escaping from the scene of the crime, but decides against it. After examining the little damage done to his car, Jake proceeds to flirt with the other driver, Mariana, who is a beautiful Venezuelan girl on her way to work. He then utilizes his charm in order to get out of the situation without taking responsibility for his actions. He offers to take her out to breakfast and makes up a fake persona for himself, which is that of an actor and a musician. He gives her false information and fake insurance, all the while sweet-talking Mariana to make her feel less suspicious. This conversation ends with Mariana giving Jake her phone number. Jake then drives off with mixed emotions while Mariana is writing down his fake license plate numbers.

Themes:

1. The definition of Love.

2. Love for oneself, self-absorption.

3. Reality vs. Fake Reality.

Author:DagobertoGilb

DagobertoGilb was born in 1950 in Los Angeles, CA, a product of a Mexican mother and a German father. After his parents divorced while he was still a toddler, he was raised by his mother in L.A. Gilb graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a Masters degree in Religious Studies, where he also majored in Philosophy. After graduating, however, he was unable to gain entry into the job market and worked in construction for the next 15 years. Gilb continued to write and publish short works during this time, but was frustrated from a lack of interest in Mexican-American writers from major publishing companies. However, he got his break when he published a collection of short stories called The Magic of Blood with the University of New Mexico Press, which became a huge success. He is praised for his astute depiction of the working class, having been part of it for most of his life. Gilb is now considered one of the leading voices of the American Southwest, having spent time in both California and Texas. His numerous awards include the James D. Phelan Award and the PEN/Hemingway Award.

Choice Excerpts:

“His sense of freedom swelled as he drove into the now moving street traffic, though he couldn’t stop the thought about that FM stereo radio and crushed velvet interior and the car smell that would even make it better” (258).

“The fact was that he’d probably have to change in whole style. Exotic colognes, plush, dark nightclubs, maitais and daiquiris, necklaced ladies and satin gowns, misty and sexy like a tequila ad” (256).

“You’re not married, are you? Not that that would matter that much to me. I’m an openmindedkinda guy” (257).

“Her hand felt so warm and soft he felt like he’d been kissed” (258).

Literary Terms:

Theme: The central idea or meaning of a story that provides a unifying point around which the plot, characters, setting, point of view, symbols, and other elements of a story are organized.

Plot: The author’s arrangement of incidents in a story.

Setting: The context in which the action of a story occurs.

Point of View: Refers to who tells us the story and how it is told.

Symbols: A person, object, or event that suggests more than its literal meaning.

Discussion Questions: (Please answer 2 out of the 4 questions)

Did your opinion of Jake change as you continued reading the story? If so, cite specific examples and explain why.

Why do you think Jake takes on a fake persona instead of being his normal self while talking to Mariana?

Is “Love in L.A.” a love story? Why or why not?

Knowing the author has a Masters degree in Religious Studies, would you agree that this story is similar to a parable? Why or why not? If yes, what is the “parable” trying to say?