Don Giovanni: A Play [Paperback]

Dan Fante (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 25, 2006

Coming to the end of his life, Jonathan Dante, the once great novelist turned Hollywood hack is forced to deal with his other legacies; his failing health and his profoundly dysfunctional family. Jonathan struggles to make sense of his relationship with sons as they play out the drama of their broken lives before his eyes, in a manner that ultimately causes the false choices of all to be revealed. With Don Giovanni Dan Fante has created both a brutal and loving homage to his late father John Fante as well as an invaluable American drama.

Editorial Reviews

Review

For those who want to know what's REALLY going on in Post-Modern American literature right now, Don Giovanni should be essential reading. --3AM Magazine

About the Author

DAN FANTE began writing in his mid-forties after recovering from many years as a drunk. "I arrived at a party in 1964," says Fante, "and sobered up around News Years 1986." He is the author of the novels Chump Change, Mooch, as well volumes of poetry and short stories.

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Burning Shore Press (April 25, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0976885913
• ISBN-13: 978-0976885917
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #791,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

The son of novelist John Fante (Ask the Dust), Dan Fante is the author of the novels 86'd, Chump Change, and Mooch; the short story collection, Short Dog; two books of poetry; and the plays The Boiler Room and Don Giovanni. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he lives in Arizona with his wife and son.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fante is fantastic, July 1, 2006

By 

Kathryn Farrar "freckles" (southern california) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don Giovanni: A Play (Paperback)

"Don Giovanni" is my first encounter with Dan Fante the playwright. Several months ago I heard Fante read some of his poetry at an event where Rob Woodard read from his "Heaping Stones," a terrific short novel about a struggling writer. Dan Fante's play turned out to be just as engrossing as his poetry.

This play will engage you the moment you begin reading the opening scene, where the bitter, physically fragile yet verbally brutal character of Johnathan Dante demands coffee from his good-humored, determined wife Catherine. The play is saturated with sharp dialogue among the family members, each of whom struggle with controlling their biting anger and resentment.

Dan Fante suprisingly leaves his readers with a sense of hope after ravaging them with his story of familial pain. READ "Don Giovanni," and be amazed at how quickly you begin to reexamine the relationships you have with your own family.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As good a read as Fante's novels, June 30, 2006

By 

William Leigh (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Don Giovanni: A Play (Paperback)

I am a big fan of Dan Fante's novels, poetry and short stories. And this play, which resurrects the Bruno Dante character from the trilogy is a great read. i thought it may be tough to get through a play (lets face it, plays work better on the stage) but Fante's punchy dialogue and black humor make this work a joy to read. Along with Corksucker / Short Dog, this is another winner released this year from the prolific Mr Fante.

If you havent read Dan Fante's stuff before, I urge you to give it a chance. I think it is no eggageration to say he is probably the most vital writer in America right now. A knockout, and something I would love to see performed.

Top notch!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great stuff, October 13, 2006

By 

Stephen Estabrook "helicopter steve" (Sacramento, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Don Giovanni: A Play (Paperback)

This is the only work of Fante's that I have read so far and I finished it in one sitting. It's a quick burn through a writer's dyfunctional family exhibiting much conflict and anger but also tenderness. The characters are cleanly drawn studies and the storyline easily pulls you into their midst. I would love to see it performed but I absolutely recommend the play as a read.