Kissed by a Fat Waitress [Paperback]

Dan Fante (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 27, 2008

In the not-so-gentle hands of Dan Fante, this book of new poetry is more akin to surgery or the body shop than to the techniques of music and painting. Fante excises whole slices of life and lays them bare for us in inspect. Pain and self-mocking humor are the writer's tools here. He pries open and exposes his heart with the kindness of a hammer or crowbar. Indeed, what could be more ego-sizing than to have all pretense flattened, laying bare the raw self underneath?

Editorial Reviews

Review

Like Bukowski...Fante is an authentic literary outlaw. --New York Times Book Review

Dan Fante allows us a glimpse of the Southern California demimonde that surely escaped his father's attention. --Los Angeles Times Book Review

Fante offers moments that brush the genius of Bukowski and Hubert Selby, Jr. --Elle

About the Author

Dan Fante began his writing career in his mid-forties after many years as a drunk. I went to a Christmas party in 1964 and sobered up sometime in the first week of January, 1986, says Fante. Fante writes poetry, plays, short stories and novels. He lives in Sedona, Arizona. He vows never to return to to the city of Los Angeles except at gunpoint or for the purpose of cremation. Dan Fante's books have been translated into many foreign languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Sun Dog Press; 1st edition (March 27, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0941543471
• ISBN-13: 978-0941543477
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,189,736 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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rage turned into amazing humor and love, May 16, 2008

By 

Sheelagh Oconnor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Kissed by a Fat Waitress (Paperback)

Are these poems? No iambic pentameter here, and what do I know about poetry anyways! Is it a bird, is it a plane, no, IT'S SUPERMAN!

That is how I feel about these poems. They have a life force that goes beyond electricity, lasers or moonbeams. This force is human, it is rage turned into amazing humor and love. It is the transformation of a Bruno, the cab driver of "Chump Change", scorning the world from his broken down taxi to a finding of god in the "thank you" voice of the guy at the counter of the 7-11 in "asking". I love the cars, the old Plymouth V8 that quit on a dusty side road, 114 degrees in the desert in "two survivors" or the steaming rage inside the car of "pulling teeth".

And what about fear in "old news", are all writers fools - arrogant isolationists, befuddled by themselves? No, I don't think so. We have here a descendant of a "prince on paper", read "here ya go Pop - this one's for you".

A wet kiss from fat waitress, in "8-30-07" goes from sour to sweet, to the wondrous, miraculous dripping taste of cherry pie. There are 117 pages of poems, packed full or surprises and light and transformation, you would never expect or read anywhere else.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fante Is Great, May 27, 2008

By 

Peter A. Gagliano (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Kissed by a Fat Waitress (Paperback)

Dan Fante is a wonderful writer. His insights can be both intimate and vast at the same time. He is one of the few who can alternate between poetry, prose and play writing with skill and depth.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong, February 15, 2010

By 

Kenso - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kissed by a Fat Waitress (Paperback)

Very strong poetry collection - in the style of - but not 'mimicking' - Bukowski. It's a hard line to tow, but Fante writes some nice poetry - he expands the style and does not copy it. I think his poetry is his strongest form.