Dan Fante (1944–2015)

JD Fiorella is a former private investigator, former owner of a rental car business and a recovering alcoholic. Now, he is unemployed, living with his mother and going to AA meetings and trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life. He also has anger issues and when a car cuts him off, he begins a chase that snowballs into much more. When he discovers his only friend (from AA and got him a job selling used cars) horrifically murdered, he decides to seek revenge.

This story starts show more out disturbing and the brutality through could turn ones stomach, but I found the story to be exciting and face-paced. It wasn’t really a mystery but a revengeful thriller. I found JD to be a great character, not one that I would want to piss off. Not for the light-hearted but still a fascinating read. show less

This book had a very familiar feel to it's writing style. Very obviously trying not to follow in the footsteps of his father, I felt like I was reading something pulled out of the mind of a less deranged, but equally drunk Charles Bukowski, which is incredibly appropriate as John Fante inspired Charles a great deal.

The story itself was well thought out, cleverly strung together by what I would assume are several journal entries, or thoughts drunkenly scribbled on dirty wet bar napkins at the show more tail end of an otherwise wasted night, probably spent drinking gut-rot wine and chasing filthy hookers.

I will not spoil the story with details of it characters but I will say each one was so very carefully written out that I felt like I knew those exact people, that I passed them on the street at least once in my life. I will reveal that I have in fact encountered a Fat Murphy more than twice in my lifetime and will probably have to endure that hard-assed pretentious personality at least once more. show less

Enjoyed this look at the Fante family, as I'm a John Fante fan and have read a couple of Dan's books, too. Unfortunately, some of this reads like the literary version of those drunk-a-logues that many of us in recovery have heard at meetings--alternately boastful and self-effacing without a whole lot of insight offered. I know he had struggles with his father. I know he came to love his father deeply. I don't feel that I was given much understanding regarding how that developed. When the show more author zeroed in on particular conversations and encounters with his parents, it came alive. I'll most likely read another Dan Fante (Bruno Dante) novel. Glad he's in recovery and writing. show less

At its best Fante's writing is my absolute favorite kind of stuff: clear, no nonsense prose with an internalist narrative focus, and stories revolving around the flawed, oddball characters that populate most of everyday America.

The one piece that didn't impress, THEBOBBY, was written as play-like dialogue. The dialogue seemed rather stilted and was sometimes repetitive. However, 4-and-1/2 stars rounds up to 5 stars in my book.