Product Description

Starting with his mother's 'roundhouse' right to a nun's jaw, Stone Junction is a modern odyssey of one man's quest for knowledge and understanding in a world where revenge, betrayal, revolution, mind-bending chemicals, magic and murder are the norm.

With jaw-dropping scope, a stiletto-sharp wit and an array of utterly bizarre characters, Jim Dodge has woven a mesmerising and age-defining tale. Like a river constantly changing direction, Stone Junction is both stomach-clutching hilarious and heart-rendingly sad - but always utterly compelling.

Prepare to step into a world where nothing is ever as it seems.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #84383 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-31
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

The Bookseller
Very funny and profound…could become one of those cult classics.

Evening Standard
The kind of book that should make the John Grishams of this world weep into their overstuffed pillows.

Synopsis
Starting with his mother's 'roundhouse' right to a nun's jaw, Stone Junction is a modern odyssey of one man's quest for knowledge and understanding in a world where revenge, betrayal, revolution, mind-bending chemicals, magic and murder are the norm. With jaw-dropping scope, a stiletto-sharp wit and an array of utterly bizarre characters, Jim Dodge has woven a mesmerising and age-defining tale. Like a river constantly changing direction, Stone Junction is both stomach-clutching hilarious and heart-rendingly sad - but always utterly compelling. Prepare to step into a world where nothing is ever as it seems.

Customer Reviews

American Magic
Thomas Pynchon, in his introduction to this novel, talks of a story grounded on Magic (with a capital M) from a time before the internet appeared in our lives. In my view, it's the kind of mysticism which was sought by the Beats (one of them, Gary Snyder, is even thanked in the novel); a form of American Magic Realism as seen through a hashish haze, to the sound of rock & roll.

Like Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude (the epitome of Magic Realism), giant characters come and go in the life of Daniel, a boy destined to learn all the outlaw skills in America and steal a perfectly round diamond, kept by the governemnt, for mysterious organisation AMO ("I Love" in Spanish). These giant characters are sketched very quickly, but so perfectly, by Jim Dodge as to make you wish they'd stick around a bit longer - or even win novels of their own. The novel is at its best when their dialogue spits one great line after another to a bemused Daniel (and reader).

Although the story plods a little towards the end, the appearance of a Tarantinoesque killer, and the diary entries of a mad girl with an imaginary daughter, liven things up. There's so much to chew in this novel, and so much to enjoy.

P.S. Make sure to only Read Pynchon's introduction after finishing the book, unless you enjoy spoilers.

stone in love with you...
I loved this book - plain simple and honest. One of the best bookS i have ever read. wildly transporting and full of the most interesting characters i have come across in any field of fiction. Reminded me a little of Even Cowgirls get the Blues - but far better writin and far more fun.

I can only say read it and go on a journey you will never forget. Lyrical - poetic - racy and full of invention.

Fantastic Find
I picked this book up in a closing down sale for £1 based on the reviews on the back cover and i was not to be disappointed. It is a complex tale which is told with great skill and moves at a fast pace, i think i read it within a week. a fantastic read and my advice is if you're thinking of buying it go ahead and do so as you will not regret it.