"I get heartbroken flying into L.A. It's just this feeling of unspecific loss. Can you imagine what the San Fernando Valley was when it was all wheat fields? Can you imagine what John Steinbeck saw?"

This quote by Edward Norton speaks with the sensation of loss that comes with seeing the transformation of the San Fernando Valley from its natural state to the vast city it is today. Norton's words evoke a sense of nostalgia for the past, when the Valley was filled with wheat fields and the appeal of nature. He also recommendations John Steinbeck, a famous author who discussed the Valley in his works, and wonders what he must have seen when he visited the area. Norton's words suggest that he feels a deep unhappiness when he checks out the Valley, understanding that its natural appeal has actually been changed by the stress of the city. He mourns the loss of the Valley's natural charm and wonders what it needs to have been like in its original state.