John Fante

[Tages]

I just got into this author, finished "Wait For Spring, Bandini" and soon I will begin "Ask the Dust."

Has anyone else read him? If so, what are your opinions on him?

[berk]

I haven't read any of his stuff, but became interested in Fante a few months back, when I read something about the movie version of Ask the Dust (great title, I think); so I was hoping you'd get a response to your question, for my own information as well as yours. What did you think of the other one? I assume you must have liked it since you're moving on to Dust.

[Tages]

I haven't read any of his stuff, but became interested in Fante a few months back, when I read something about the movie version of Ask the Dust (great title, I think); so I was hoping you'd get a response to your question, for my own information as well as yours. What did you think of the other one? I assume you must have liked it since you're moving on to Dust.

It's a very good novel, the prose reminds me a bit of what Hemingway would sound like if you toned down the macho stoicism about five notches or so. The plot moves very slowly at first but really picks up at about the third chapter. Fante has an uncanny grasp of interior monologue I find very impressive, and his understanding of human nature is far deeper than I'd originally thought.

The ending was a lot less downbeat than I'd expected, since I'd heard that Fante's other books are relentlessly pessimistic.

I'm going to start a "passages from books you really like" thread using something from "Wait Until Spring, Bandini" now.

[Tages]

Well, this month I've devoured the entire Bandini quartet. Absolutely wonderful.

I think I have a new addition to my pantheon of favorite writers.

[berk]

I've become intrigued to the point where I'll probably have to give this guy a try sometime.