There is nothing quite like the Los Angeles Review of Books. It is as lively, creative, innovative, and full of new ideas as the city itself. Like the city, it has become a home for contributors that span the globe, from right here in Los Angeles to New York, Beijing, Gaza, Mumbai, Myanmar, Cairo, Madrid, Paris, the list goes on. In the past month alone, LARB has covered writers from all over the world, including English novelist Martin Amis, Mexican-American poet Denise Chavez, Italian artist Matteo Pericoli, and Australian former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, as well as Scottish wordsmith Ali Smith right back to hometown Los Angeles resident Janet Fitch. LARB is read in all 50 states and in more than 150 countries, making it a truly global forum.
But where the Los Angeles Review of Books triumphs most is in its diversity of opinion. You may not always agree with the pieces you read, but they will always be worth your time. They will be thought-provoking, stirring, and sometimes just plain fun.
I joined the board of the Los Angeles Review of Books because I believe in its mission – because I wanted to show my support for independent publishing at a time when it couldn’t be more important to do so.
LARB is reader-supported: it only exists thanks to the generosity of everyday readers like us. That’s why this is such an important time to show your support. The Goldhirsh Foundation and an anonymous donor have generously offered $75,000 in matching grants to help keep LARB strong in the new year. To receive the $75,000, we need to raise $75,000, and we only have until January 1 to do it. So, today, I appeal to you, donate what you can. We have a collective responsibility to keep this organization strong for the sake of independent journalism, and for the exchange of ideas. Theirs is our fight, too.
Sincerely,
Reza Aslan
