this was an excellent depiction of poverty, drug abuse, and dealing with living in a big city! her prose is excellent and so emotionally intense, while simultaneously allowing you a glimpse into her that feels almost friendly. i find it best said by the city of berkeley’s mayor in 2004 on Julia, “She gives us a voice when ours vanishes. She gives voice to the homeless, the street performers, the merchant, the coffee drinker, friends and foes alike, and her words, like a sharp knife, cut deep into the truth. She describes us as full of life, and love, and heartache. She makes us honest. We, the eccentric, the lonely, the broken are given a voice.”