Reviews

Jesus' Son: Stories by Denis Johnson

kathrinpassig's review against another edition

4.0

Wegen dieser Rezension gelesen: https://www.piqd.de/literatenfunk/denis-johnson-jesus-son
Unklar, warum die Empfehlungstools von Amazon und Goodreads mir die Existenz von Denis Johnson verschwiegen haben.

teenagelightning's review against another edition

5.0

amazing.

why do I like reading about dirtbags so much?

geva1108's review against another edition

dark funny fast-paced

4.0

Everyone knows that this is Denis at his best, but now I know it too. Reading short stories by a poet—! It’s like watching slalom on TV. What a thrill, all the language. I especially appreciate bum lit. I think I dated this guy a few times over in my hometown. The first and last stories were especially memorable, which makes sense and was maybe the publisher’s idea, but it does make me wonder if there was a rush to get through some of the middle bits. Anyway, this is leagues better than Train Dreams, which for some reason I read first many years ago and gave to an ex who said he wanted to read more (I gave him all the books I didn’t like, since he didn’t know the difference anyway). I think this and Bad Behavior are in my top 2 story collections. Denis! What a job. 

noahpowers's review against another edition

dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tactfulcactuss's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 stars

margadel's review against another edition

4.0

Beautifully and brilliantly written, simultaneously deeply unpleasant.

cmvogt5's review against another edition

4.0

Well, that was something. A fast, thundering train of short stories through the dark side of modern life. All different, all the same.

sarsarsarsar's review against another edition

5.0

Wow. What??? Phenomenal writing. The stories flow like dreams. Each one is dipped in confusion and full on freedom of thought. I loved it.

rocketiza's review against another edition

3.0

I keep trying again and again to get into Denis Johnson because of his pretty universal acclaim, but I never really feel like I get anything out of what he writes.

mehitabels's review against another edition

2.0

"The cards were scattered on the table, face up, face down, and they seemed to foretell that whatever we did to one another would be washed away by liquor or explained away by sad songs."