The John Fante Reader

Rating:
Summary: Fante is amazing
Review: I somehow couldn't get through Fante's Ask the Dust but this collection has me riveted. It's raw, powerful stuff and I'm embarrassed to find so much I admired in a more famous writer (Chinaski) apparently lifted from here (ample credit given, albeit). This is wrenching stuff. How did Fante's reputation get sidetracked? Kind of reminds me of another great writer, Richard Yates, who somehow got lost in the shuffle --jaw-droppingly awesome stuff that just went thwooop over the heads of the "important" critics.

Rating:
Summary: Inside the world of Fante
Review: Stephen Cooper has done more justice to telling Fante's story than anyone. It is Steve Cooper who has brought Fante's stories back into the limelight again, giving him the voice he so desperately needed (and deserved) when he was alive. The John Fante Reader is a fantastic compilation of stories from all of Fante's work. From beginning to end, the reader is allowed to follow Fante on his journey as a young boy and into adulthood. This is a fabulous read if you have yet to be indoctrinated into the world of Fante as well as if you already love Fante and his out-of-control imagination and storytelling. This Reader puts together little bits and pieces of his best work. I have not laughed as much as I did reading the escapades of Fante's characters, or cry. He is raw and human and so alive in all of his writing. You won't be sorry for having read this. In fact, it will probably prompt you to run out and buy all of his books and read them one by one. It is almost like being teased, only getting to read bits and pieces from each story here. But they are fabulous stories, nonetheless.

I love this book and that stems largely from the fact that I love Fante. You don't have to be Catholic or ITALIAN to appreciate him. A huge thank you to Steve Cooper for putting this out in the world for everyone to enjoy.