Reviews

Jesus' Son: Stories by Denis Johnson

bryce_is_a_librarian's review against another edition

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5.0

Harrowing and blunt. May contain the meaning of life.

joshsricker's review against another edition

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5.0

Story of someone lost but with amazing imagery.

sloatsj's review against another edition

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5.0

I love this book. It's one of the best books I've ever read, and otherwise I'm not all that crazy about Denis Johnson. The scene in “Emergency” in which the man is mopping up the hospital floor and trying, or not trying, to explain what he's crying about pretty much sums everything up for me.
I refuse to see this movie. I will burn this movie.

enelvee's review against another edition

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4.0

A four-and-a-halfer. I read this not long ago, and stumbled upon the movie version last night on HBO. I wouldn't say it's true to the book, but good nonetheless. The stories are superb.

jowixx's review against another edition

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3.0

Najlepiej jest, kiedy narrator pospiesznie szkicuje poetyckie krajobrazy i metaforyzuje pozornie banalne zdarzenia. Niestety konstrukcja jego świata jest niekompletna, za bardzo wyrwana z kontekstu. Trudno cokolwiek poczuć i trudno czymkolwiek się przejąć.

stevegreene's review against another edition

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5.0

Phenomenal narration from Will Patton, whose work here is a spiritual sibling to Michael Shannon reading Sam Shepard’s “Spy of the First Person.” Both will make you believe that a recording can sweat.

drekklin's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Followed Train Dreams with this short story collection. Denis Johnson writes mesmerizingly — if the character is in the gutter of their life, I am right there with them. At first you might be reading one of these tight little stories and think, “where is this going? What is he on about? How did we go from that to this?” These reactions make sense. And yet the prose is touching, even after being brutal unrelenting. Let the tide of it wash over you.

piworld's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

5.0

gnodmas's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny reflective 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

andyreadsfantasy's review against another edition

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4.0

I bought this book because I heard the writing was really good - and I agree. Great writing, but it’s probably not for everyone. It reminded me of Jack Kerouac or Hemingway. Short simple sentences that have good flow.

Giving it 4 stars because some stories were 5 star worthy, but some were not.