The John Fante Reader

by John Fante

It's not every day that a writer, almost unheard of in his lifetime, emerges twenty years after his death as a voice of his generation. But then again, there aren't many writers with such irrepressible genius as John Fante. The John Fante Reader is the important next step in the reintroduction of this influential author to modern audiences. Combining excerpts from his novels and stories, as well as his never-before-published letters, this collection is the perfect primer on the work of a writer -- underappreciated in his time -- who is finally taking his place in the pantheon of twentieth-century American writers.

Genres: Nonfiction, Short Stories

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Fante's early years were spent in relative poverty. The son of an Italian born father, Nicola Fante, and an Italian-American mother, Mary Capolungo, Fante was educated in various Catholic schools in Boulder and Denver, Colorado, and briefly attended the University of Colorado.

In 1929, he dropped out of college and moved to Southern California to concentrate on his writing. He lived and worked in Wilmington, Long Beach, and in the Bunker Hill district of downtown Los Angeles, California.

He is known to be one of the first writers to portray the tough times faced by many writers in L.A. His work and style has influenced such similar authors as "Poet Laureate of Skid Row" Charles Bukowski and influential beat generation writer Jack Kerouac. He was proclaimed by Time Out magazine as one of America's "criminally neglected writers."

Reviews

[R · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fante is, of course, classic Los Angeles, and this is a great selection of his works. I wasn't crazy about the way different serial stories were interspersed, with the title identified only at the end, but other than that, great.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

B- I liked Ask the Dust better; a lot of these essays, short stories and prose pieces are repetitive in theme and topic, and I ended up skimming some of the later pieces.

[Matt Staff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fante has it. Whatever "it" is. I don't know. Maybe the "it" factor boils down to a genius of kinds. That quote right, goes something like..."genius is the ability to make the complex simple.." Reading's hard sometimes. It is isn't it? We'll wake up groggy, or go to bed exhausted, and want no more than a quick escape--a few chapters to be sure--of digestible 'check-the-fuck-out-and-think-about-something-else. Sadly, a lot of what's out there, the books I've come across at the young and ignorant age of 22 at least, is dense, in need of re-reads (those moments when you read a page, and forget 3/4 of what you just read), and choppy.

These pages run smooth.

His words pop off the page; his stories hook a few lines in; his prose is raw and hard-earned and real, at times torn between fits of madness and suffering, only to give in to strings of lucidity, clarity. The simplicity of his writing..shit, it's like he can paint a fucking picture with a few strokes of the brush. I was quick to pick up on how much influence he held over Bukowski--they both focused their writing on the underbelly of L.A.--the alleys, bars, beat-up apartments beyond the sunny white picket fences--and the trying, challenging, spaces in between the writer's first break and actually making it.

If you're unexposed to Fante's work, which you probably are, because he's developed a famous reputation as an undiscovered literary pearl only recently dug up from the trenches of whatever it is we fill bookstores with nowadays; give this goddamn collection a go. If you know me: ask to borrow the book. I'll probably give it to you if I haven't already pawned it off to another word-hungry fiend in need of a new read.

[Marianne Bucci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent anthology of short stories and chapters from Fante's published novels dealing with the Italian-American experience. Fante, an incredibly gifted writer of the 20th century is often overlooked in lists of recommended reading. A modern author who ranks with Steinbeck and Uris. Give this a chance!

[Russ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that a writer of this caliber, was greatly ignored in his lifetime is a shame.His coming of age stories in this book are eye opening and a treat.

[Mossgardens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The spiritual forefather of Charles Bukowski. You can directly see the influence in his work. I do find Charles Bukowski's prose to be a bit less graceful however it has a somewhat sharper cleverness. Fante on the other hand tends to be more sentimental in a way that's more piercing. This collection is a smattering from his various books and a collection of letters. They vary in subject matter as a sampling of his work I think the selections are pretty good. Tantalizing without bordering into making you sick of his style.

If you're a big Charles Bukowski fan it's worth taking a look at.

[Jay-Jay Keiper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The content was great, but organized haphazardly. Chapters of books are identified only at their ends, and never gain much continuity along the way. The letters at the end of the book are worth the price of admission. A decent introduction to Fante, I just feel that it could have been compiled better.

[Adam Bricker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Semi autobiographical tales of a slightly sexist, slightly racist self-loather hiding behind a wall of bravado and struggling to find his identity as a writer and a man born to an immigrant laborer.

[Victoria & David Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

When looking for a novel about Los Angeles, I consulted the usual suspects: Google and the L.A.Times,
and found recommended the usual authors: Raymond Chandler, Joan Didion, Nathanael West, Walter Mosley, James Ellroy. And a guy by the name of John Fante who I had never heard of. But Bukowski called him god and so my interest was piqued as it was meant to. And he writes well enough and I understand why Bukowski calls him god (they both write from within the belly of the beast).
But on the whole I'll take Chandler as my be all and end all (with T.C.Boyle to round out the edges).

[Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it, and I can see a lot of Bukowski in it. Fante's voices are a little whinier at times, but I like the relate-able flaws in the characters. Going through this reminded me of going through Buk's novels and seeing the author age (as you are, in fact, doing with Fante). The letters at the end are really their own mini-timeline, and show a bit of the man changing, but also how an unknown got into the world of authorship.

By coincidence, a day after reading this I watched the ok-but-not-great Bukowski: Born Into This documentary and learned more about Buk in that 2hr film than about Fante in the collection.

If you like Buk, come see where he got it from. If you liked Winesburg, Ohio you will probably find something here, too.

Everyman street-level semi-fiction. Great as a primer and how-to, acceptable but not outstanding as a work on its own (this person's opinion only).

[David Enos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn about Italian ways. He writes plain as can be, blurts out some unexpectedly perfect descriptions of hard to explain feelings.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to a little someone who used to work at Pulp Fiction.

[Whit Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

fante can do no wrong

[Tony Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not enough people know John Fante and that is a damn shame.