Sex and Rage Summary
Babitz, Eve

Sex and Rage Overview

Eve Babitz’s novel, Sex & Rage: Advice to Young Ladies Eager for a Good Time was originally published in 1979, and was later reprinted in 2017. The semi-autobiographical novel follows Jacaranda Leven, a surfer and writer born and raised in Los Angeles, through her childhood into her early 30s. Throughout the novel, Jacaranda, whose life story closely mimics Babitz’s own wild youth, dabbles with posh society, drugs, drinking, surfing, and of course, writing, as she moves from a self-destructive lifestyle into one that is healthier and more self-sustaining. Sex & Rage considers themes of lust, infatuation, fame, and self-sabotage in Jacaranda’s looks-obsessed and entertainment-focused corner of Southern California.