Customer Reviews

John Fante Selected Letters 1932-1981

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Amazing but only if John Fante serves as a hero to you or you have a great deal of interest in details of America in the 1930's. John Fante is without a doubt one of the best American writers (THE best, for me). I would read his actual novels before purchasing this though, as with any writer biography, journal, or letters.

I just finished reading this book of letters, and it took me a while to slog through, as one can imagine a book of letters could be slightly boring at times. There wasn't quite as much information as I would have hoped for regarding the "Ask the Dust" period, however, a true Fante fan would enjoy giving this one a read through.

Fante's personality comes through, and he seems like a pretty decent, genuine guy. His writing seems to come from a big, sentimental heart, not a cold, detached intellect. I particularly liked the items in the Appendix, including Fante's story "The First Time I Saw Paris." It humanized Fante for me - this story supposedly about Paris - but so different from Sartre - more unashamedly ethical than the Henry Miller, who, while warm and considerate himself at times, would likely have swung his coat back over his shoulder, and continued home to Tania.