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thomasgoddard's review against another edition
5.0
Jesus’ Son by Denis Johnson
Thanks to the podcast 'Backlisted' (website address at bottom of review) for lighting a fire under my bum on this one.
I read Train Dreams on Sep 10, 2020 and I fell in love with it. But I did what I usually do... I accepted that I loved the author, but slipped into my habit of trying not to exhaust an author’s whole catalogue too quickly. I have this pressing fear that I’ll reach the end of all there is to read and feel bereft or something.
Or else I just feel that if you know an author is good, there is plenty of time to read the rest.
But life is short. And great work can be re-read if it is all that spectacular.
Let me tell you, this is one that I will certainly be revisiting.
A blistering collection of short stories that are just maddeningly good. Every time I read one there was some new literary trick that got played on me. So that I was just in awe of the skill. The precision of writing on display is a real treat to a fellow writer.
How Johnson manages to say so much in such a concise way is baffling, but the text is just alive with meaning. There are things said that really make you tilt your head. I found myself re-reading more than one story by the time I’d finished. And I shared a good deal of passages with my partner.
I can’t tell you how good this is. You have to experience it for yourself. This is the quickest read you’ll have and if you’re not careful it will leave you feeling like you just saw a train zip past. With all the stuff inside just zipping away along with it. You need to take some time. Slow for it and it’ll keep you hooked.
If you only read one book by Denis Johnson... you’re just a lunatic... one book will mean another and another and another. I already have The Laughing Monsters queued up on my shelf!
https://www.backlisted.fm/
Thanks to the podcast 'Backlisted' (website address at bottom of review) for lighting a fire under my bum on this one.
I read Train Dreams on Sep 10, 2020 and I fell in love with it. But I did what I usually do... I accepted that I loved the author, but slipped into my habit of trying not to exhaust an author’s whole catalogue too quickly. I have this pressing fear that I’ll reach the end of all there is to read and feel bereft or something.
Or else I just feel that if you know an author is good, there is plenty of time to read the rest.
But life is short. And great work can be re-read if it is all that spectacular.
Let me tell you, this is one that I will certainly be revisiting.
A blistering collection of short stories that are just maddeningly good. Every time I read one there was some new literary trick that got played on me. So that I was just in awe of the skill. The precision of writing on display is a real treat to a fellow writer.
How Johnson manages to say so much in such a concise way is baffling, but the text is just alive with meaning. There are things said that really make you tilt your head. I found myself re-reading more than one story by the time I’d finished. And I shared a good deal of passages with my partner.
I can’t tell you how good this is. You have to experience it for yourself. This is the quickest read you’ll have and if you’re not careful it will leave you feeling like you just saw a train zip past. With all the stuff inside just zipping away along with it. You need to take some time. Slow for it and it’ll keep you hooked.
If you only read one book by Denis Johnson... you’re just a lunatic... one book will mean another and another and another. I already have The Laughing Monsters queued up on my shelf!
https://www.backlisted.fm/
kegifford's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Stunning writing. Focused on the down-and-outs of this world, the failed, desperate, the addicted; at the same time very heartful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Gore, and Violence
mellomellomello's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting. Not mad about it but not more than a 3 star for me.
azazel11's review
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jakekilroy's review against another edition
4.0
This rattling collection is one shaky, muttering burst after another of weirdos, creeps, lowlifes, outlaws, and guys who just can't keep their brains together — and I suppose I mean that in the old way; the way my dad would talk about wildcards; the way that those existences were as exciting as they were troubling. Everyone here is just sputtering through their tiny worlds, from hitchhiking through car accidents to watching a religious couple wash each other from the shadows of night. Each narrator beats up sentences trying to get out their thoughts, feverishly bouncing between mundane immediacy to croaked gospel mania. They'll ask who they even represent to a woman they're sleeping (and arguing) with and it'll put 'em into high gear to wonder how god can see crimes and sins if he's always got the bright lights in his eyes. You're unsure what everyone in these stories are capable of and it's equal parts worrisome and wonderful. Half the time it's like listening to someone pace and work themselves up. But if you sit there long enough, you might become a believer yourself. Wild times.
kcibulskas's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
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
3.0
emerwalsh's review against another edition
2.0
Grace I’m so sorry i know you love this but i really didn’t enjoy!! very self indulgent and male in all the worst ways
chuey27's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
kingbob's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Personal favourites: Car Crash While Hitchhiking, Two Men, Emergency, Beverly Home
gabesteller's review against another edition
5.0
I can’t tell if everybody in college loved this book or if Paddy and Sam just talked about it all the time but damm real good. “Emergency” is like top 5 all time story.
“There’s so much goop inside us man, and it all wants to get out!”
You could also tell me this is a classic of the 20 something dude genre, sitting on the shelf right next to blood meridian, but at the end of the day I yam what I yam
“There’s so much goop inside us man, and it all wants to get out!”
You could also tell me this is a classic of the 20 something dude genre, sitting on the shelf right next to blood meridian, but at the end of the day I yam what I yam