Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #335454 in Books
• Published on: 1986-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

Synopsis
Tells the stories of a struggling screenwriter who takes in a stray dog, and a young boy who becomes disillusioned by his father's atheist co-worker.

Customer Reviews

the other side of fante
john fante made his name with the great bandini in four passionate novels about the struggles of poverty and the mismatch of desire and potential. this is a complete change of tack. it doesnt make it bad, but it doesnt bear a great deal of resemblance to the earlier works.

the first story is fante as a late middle aged man longing to be in rome and wondering where all these people in his house have come from, wondering why his children have not yet flown the coop. its actually an extremely readable story, the style is excellent and the struggles of middle age and the inability to really break out anymore, or even to really want to break out are made tangible.

i suppose the most interesting point to me is that there is very little work from fante at this point in his life and it is intriguing to see how his view of the world has progressed.

the second novella is a return to childhood but, frankly, i could take it or leave it, it is not one of the better examples of the author's work.

3.5 stars

Fante's bold style portrays a man facing the wilderness
A successful screenwriter trapped in the gridlock of middle age. A quadraped visitor arrives and interupts the equilibrium. If this wasn't enough, the children who kept his difficult marriage going are set to flee the nest. Faced with an empty, monotonous future, what better time to think about escaping to Rome?
Fante's writing style is beautifully clipped, vividly descriptive and as Bukowski says, he writes like he's carving wood. It's writing with a stunning economy and a true inspiration to anyone wanting to write.

interesting
this is an interesting tale- whatever your situation in life is, this book makes you feel better due to all the hardships the charecters go thru-