What do you think?
Rate this book
East Jesus Nowhere
“A fast-paced and funny novella overflowing with debauchery, poor decisions marked by good intentions, and the grimy, blurred reflection of modern middle America. East Jesus Nowhere is a Norman Rockwell painting lit on fire and sprayed with piss and whiskey.”
— Jack Moody, author of Crooked Smile
“In East Jesus Nowhere Fulkerson takes us on a booze-drenched backcountry ride through the dive bars and lonely haunts of western Kentucky. The bottom is rocky and peopled with the broken and their shattering dreams.”
— A.S. Coomer, author of The Fetishists and Birth of a Monster
Genres
Fiction
107 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2023
This edition
Format
107 pages, Paperback
Published
August 29, 2023 by Independently published
Language
English
— Jack Moody, author of Crooked Smile
“In East Jesus Nowhere Fulkerson takes us on a booze-drenched backcountry ride through the dive bars and lonely haunts of western Kentucky. The bottom is rocky and peopled with the broken and their shattering dreams.”
— A.S. Coomer, author of The Fetishists and Birth of a Monster
Genres
Fiction
107 pages, Paperback
Published August 29, 2023
This edition
Format
107 pages, Paperback
Published
August 29, 2023 by Independently published
Language
English
- GenresFiction
107 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2023
2260 people want to read
About the author
Joseph Fulkerson
26 books53 followersWriter of fiction, poetry, and haiku
www.josephfulkerson.com
Fulkerson2693@gmail.com
linktr.ee/josephfulkerson
www.josephfulkerson.com
Fulkerson2693@gmail.com
linktr.ee/josephfulkerson
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 3, 2023
3.5
I've not read any Joseph Fulkerson before so wasn't sure what to expect. I guess this would be a modern chapbook format.
It tells the story of Jim, a good looking divorcee, just getting on with life in the backwater he describes as East Jesus Nowhere because if the proliferation of churches (and restaurants). It started out quite funny but after a while it's just Jim, getting drunk, trying to connect, living his life.
It was an okay read but nothing special. If you want a very quick read that's just about ordinary people then give it a go.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.
I've not read any Joseph Fulkerson before so wasn't sure what to expect. I guess this would be a modern chapbook format.
It tells the story of Jim, a good looking divorcee, just getting on with life in the backwater he describes as East Jesus Nowhere because if the proliferation of churches (and restaurants). It started out quite funny but after a while it's just Jim, getting drunk, trying to connect, living his life.
It was an okay read but nothing special. If you want a very quick read that's just about ordinary people then give it a go.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance review copy.
August 5, 2023
If you’re like me, and Fulkerson’s
protagonist Jimmy, you have (had)
a favorite bar you loved to hang out
in. In East Jesus Nowhere ( in KY)
the bar is named Sand Dollar. In
my case it was the WT’s (Albany, NY).
Our favorite bar isn’t fancy, you are
on a first name basis with all of the
bartenders and you re considered a
regular. Most of East Jesus Nowhere
takes place in Sand Dollar or other
hangouts. The best part about these
places, and the people who hang out
there, is that they feel familiar,
the bar is like home and all the
characters are your friends. Just don’t
make the same mistake I did and work
at your favorite bar as all the ragged
edges, and things you were better off not
knowing, are exposed. The saddest part
is my bar is closed now. So is the Sand
Dollar. Their passing felt like a death
in the family
protagonist Jimmy, you have (had)
a favorite bar you loved to hang out
in. In East Jesus Nowhere ( in KY)
the bar is named Sand Dollar. In
my case it was the WT’s (Albany, NY).
Our favorite bar isn’t fancy, you are
on a first name basis with all of the
bartenders and you re considered a
regular. Most of East Jesus Nowhere
takes place in Sand Dollar or other
hangouts. The best part about these
places, and the people who hang out
there, is that they feel familiar,
the bar is like home and all the
characters are your friends. Just don’t
make the same mistake I did and work
at your favorite bar as all the ragged
edges, and things you were better off not
knowing, are exposed. The saddest part
is my bar is closed now. So is the Sand
Dollar. Their passing felt like a death
in the family
April 28, 2024
A short, quick read, 108 pages.While the story is interesting, not a great deal happens in the tale. The emptiness of detail is also apropos to the story line.
September 1, 2023
This book is a short journey to the moods of America's inner, religious side ("East Jesus Nowhere") through the eyes of a simple guy, Jimmy Lane. It does not pretend to be anything other than that. It presents a collection of snippets of Jimmy's ordinary life (most of them in a bar), who is, however, perceptive enough to walk the line between existential cynicism and trusting pragmatism. There is no plot, no argument outside that: you just ride along with the guy for a little while. Easy to read, it succeeds in picking up the reader's attention, though.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 21, 2024
A quick, interesting, ride along journey with a guy named Jimmy.
This is my first read by the author. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the giveaway.
This is my first read by the author. Thank you to the author, publisher, and Goodreads for the giveaway.
July 27, 2023
Sometimes a title is all that is needed to captivate an audience. A title so intriguing that the book must be read. That's the trick that author, Joseph Fulkerson mastered with EAST JESUS NOWHERE. A title that you just want to pick up.
DESCRIPTION;
EAST JESUS NOWHERE is about a blue-collar bastard who spends far too many of his nights sucking down booze at a bar called the Sand Dollar. Along with his friend Big Mike, Jimmy Lane (Jimbo) tries his best to navigate life and love while stuck in the middle of nowhere.
SUMMARY:
The description of East Jesus Nowhere says it all. Joseph Fulkerson can turn a phrase and does a wonderful job in the opening chapter setting the scene. The reader gets a nice glimpse into the life and the motivations (or lack thereof) of the type musings of a 'young-ish' blue collar guy. The set-up is intriguing but it rapidly becomes apparent that the novella's blurb is all there is.
East Jesus Nowhere goes nowhere. There's no plot, the characters are little more than names with a single attribute to distinguish one from another, and beyond the third chapter there is little more to be had than a series of repetitive incidents only striking for their familiarity. By the end, the novella has devolved into the type of scenarios that one would expect to index Penthouse Letters.
EAST JESUS NOWHERE is a great title in search of a story.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an Advance copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
EAST JESUS NOWHERE
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2023
#eastjesusnowhere #netgalley
DESCRIPTION;
EAST JESUS NOWHERE is about a blue-collar bastard who spends far too many of his nights sucking down booze at a bar called the Sand Dollar. Along with his friend Big Mike, Jimmy Lane (Jimbo) tries his best to navigate life and love while stuck in the middle of nowhere.
SUMMARY:
The description of East Jesus Nowhere says it all. Joseph Fulkerson can turn a phrase and does a wonderful job in the opening chapter setting the scene. The reader gets a nice glimpse into the life and the motivations (or lack thereof) of the type musings of a 'young-ish' blue collar guy. The set-up is intriguing but it rapidly becomes apparent that the novella's blurb is all there is.
East Jesus Nowhere goes nowhere. There's no plot, the characters are little more than names with a single attribute to distinguish one from another, and beyond the third chapter there is little more to be had than a series of repetitive incidents only striking for their familiarity. By the end, the novella has devolved into the type of scenarios that one would expect to index Penthouse Letters.
EAST JESUS NOWHERE is a great title in search of a story.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an Advance copy of this novella in exchange for an honest review.
EAST JESUS NOWHERE
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2023
#eastjesusnowhere #netgalley
August 27, 2023
Scrolling through Instagram one day, I saw Joseph Fulkerson had a new book coming out. Being a fan of his work and having a title like East Jesus Nowhere, I felt inclined to check it out.
It made me feel like I was at home, heading to the Ponderosa. The Dive bar depicted in this book may have been called the Sand Dollar, but you can find its characters in your local bar as well if you are anything like me. The author puts you in the shoes of a respectably employed man who navigates life with the more than occasional trip to his favorite bar.
My favorite part was Fulkerson's style. The main character found himself in several forms of debauchery. Jimbo could not be characterized by simply being a degenerate. While he did engage in sometimes questionable behavior, he also showed his more positive traits. For example, caring for a person with addiction. Without being too heavy of a book in subject matter, it had its moments of pure entertainment in the form of humor and coincidence balanced with addressing the rough aspects of human nature.
I would give this book to anyone who has ever regretted a one-night stand with someone they met at the bar. But as Gary Allen once said about sex, even at its worst, it's still the best. And as Eric Church once said, the best prescription for the human condition is a jukebox and a bar. Coming from someone who has spent hundreds of hard-earned dollars on Touchtunes at various bars, I can relate to these experiences described in East Jesus Nowhere.
It made me feel like I was at home, heading to the Ponderosa. The Dive bar depicted in this book may have been called the Sand Dollar, but you can find its characters in your local bar as well if you are anything like me. The author puts you in the shoes of a respectably employed man who navigates life with the more than occasional trip to his favorite bar.
My favorite part was Fulkerson's style. The main character found himself in several forms of debauchery. Jimbo could not be characterized by simply being a degenerate. While he did engage in sometimes questionable behavior, he also showed his more positive traits. For example, caring for a person with addiction. Without being too heavy of a book in subject matter, it had its moments of pure entertainment in the form of humor and coincidence balanced with addressing the rough aspects of human nature.
I would give this book to anyone who has ever regretted a one-night stand with someone they met at the bar. But as Gary Allen once said about sex, even at its worst, it's still the best. And as Eric Church once said, the best prescription for the human condition is a jukebox and a bar. Coming from someone who has spent hundreds of hard-earned dollars on Touchtunes at various bars, I can relate to these experiences described in East Jesus Nowhere.
July 23, 2023
Chapter one is one of the strongest openings to any book I’ve ever read. I don’t say this lightly and I’ve read a LOT of books. The imagery and descriptors were simply remarkable. It almost felt like I was watching a movie. I’ve spent some time in Ohio, but Kentucky is still on the list of places to visit. Mostly because bourbon is my favorite drink. (Is there anything else to do there?)
"Old money runs a place like this, and believe me, they have deep pockets. Generation after generation of the same handful of last names having the final word on most every decision made. They don’t want things to change, and they’ll pay whatever it costs to make sure it doesn’t.”
And one of my favorite lines:
“So, there’s not much to do around here unless you are religious, have a filthy habit, or recovering from one.”
I have a love/hate relationship with novellas. Quick reads are great…you can get through them on an afternoon trip to the beach. Usually, they leave you wanting so much more. You feel like you didn’t get enough time with the narrator. I enjoyed these chapters with the narrator so much. I was envious they could take a stand when I don’t always feel I can. I was shaking my head at some decisions I thought could lead them down a darker path. I nodded along in agreement with their thoughts and feelings. I felt so connected in such a short time. That is a feat for any novella, but it’s all in credit to Fulkerson’s true mastery of the craft.
"Old money runs a place like this, and believe me, they have deep pockets. Generation after generation of the same handful of last names having the final word on most every decision made. They don’t want things to change, and they’ll pay whatever it costs to make sure it doesn’t.”
And one of my favorite lines:
“So, there’s not much to do around here unless you are religious, have a filthy habit, or recovering from one.”
I have a love/hate relationship with novellas. Quick reads are great…you can get through them on an afternoon trip to the beach. Usually, they leave you wanting so much more. You feel like you didn’t get enough time with the narrator. I enjoyed these chapters with the narrator so much. I was envious they could take a stand when I don’t always feel I can. I was shaking my head at some decisions I thought could lead them down a darker path. I nodded along in agreement with their thoughts and feelings. I felt so connected in such a short time. That is a feat for any novella, but it’s all in credit to Fulkerson’s true mastery of the craft.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2023
Fulkerson, through his unreliable narrator, a construction worker and journeyman barfly, who
reports Sand Dollar interactions in realistic dialogue, and in peppery, yet contrite detail. He sometimes finds himself captivated by a rare kind of woman, so he thinks; a chain smoking bartender or the vulnerable woman shrinking from her abusive boyfriend. He may try to bed the beckoning beauties in impossible circumstances, or they may forwardly push themselves on him, but you will have to find out if the tomfoolery leads to any lasting love, surprising incidents, or whether the comic interactions of hooking up by desperado drinkers leads nowhere, or, to a barf bag Bleak House with a modicum of truth, a happy ending.
reports Sand Dollar interactions in realistic dialogue, and in peppery, yet contrite detail. He sometimes finds himself captivated by a rare kind of woman, so he thinks; a chain smoking bartender or the vulnerable woman shrinking from her abusive boyfriend. He may try to bed the beckoning beauties in impossible circumstances, or they may forwardly push themselves on him, but you will have to find out if the tomfoolery leads to any lasting love, surprising incidents, or whether the comic interactions of hooking up by desperado drinkers leads nowhere, or, to a barf bag Bleak House with a modicum of truth, a happy ending.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews