Ask the Dust

Love his style. Offbeat characters, LA in the 1930’s, what is not to like?

“Ask The Dust” is a tough gritty coming of age novel set in Los Angeles in the 1930s. It is the third novel, and second published novel authored by John Fante. The protagonist is a young Italian American Arturo Bandini, described as John Fante’s alter ego. The novel is of medium length and is mostly highly readable. There are some very picturesque passages that border on the poetic that I read slowly and often reread to allow the words to sink in. Other passages I found pedestrian, depressing, and frustrating.If asked to compare this author to another I would compare him to Charles Bukowski, particularly “Ham on Rye”. Charles Bukowski openly admired John Fante. While not completely enthralled with either author I find John Fante somewhat more artistic.This novel has a Noir aspect to it. It is about individuals at the lower end of the socioeconomic side of the population. Many of the characters seem to lead sad lives of quiet desperation. While I enjoy these Noir type novels from time to time, I find them depressing and need to take a break from them.As stated above, this is the third completed novel of John Fante. Each novel is a standalone novel. Each novel involves Arturo Bandini as a young aspiring author. I found each novel more interesting than enjoyable. Although not really enthralled with any of them, I suppose my favorite is “Wait Until Spring Bandini”, which is set in Colorado earlier in Bandini’s life.The third novel, first composed, but not published until later is “The Road to Los Angeles”. It is also dark and gritty. As a trilogy it is somewhat inconsistent with the other two novels and was my least favorite. I felt the writing was less mature which is understandable as it is a first effort. If I was going to skip one of these three novels, this would be the one.In summary I am glad to have read this novel. It is a good novel, but dark. There are passages that are quite artistic. There are passages that are crude. It can be read as a standalone novel but is somewhat related to other novels with the same protagonist. Thank you for taking the time to read this review.

'Ask the Dust' is perhaps my favorite of John Fante's wonderful novels. But then, is there room for more than one 'favorite?' How about 'Brotherhood of the Grape?' or 'The Big Hunger?' and a half dozen or so others...I first read John Fante's books after seeing Charles Bukowski on video claiming Fante as his favorite writer. Bukowski said Fante 'writes like God.' Bukowski himself wasn't bad so I had to see what the fuss was all about with John Fante. Yes, I decided Fante does write like God. Pure genius story telling in the clearest prose you'll ever find. It manages to be conversational and literary both all at once. I suppose that's how God would do it.But seriously, Fante is worth reading and actually rereading, too. It is very good stuff. I have nearly all his books and couldn't give them up. They are pretty nearly perfect.

Loved this book!

I'd been meaning to read this for a long time.Then I read Charles Bukowski's Ham on Rye and I knew it was time .Bukowski wrote the introduction to this book.There are similarities shared by the two authors but Bukowski is drunker and funnier.Ask The Dust is set in 1930's Los Angeles and you get the feel of a real city where people use public transportation and walk to places.As with some of Bukowski's work, the setting is the old Downtown .It's decidedly unglamorous. That is the books strong suit.It does a good job of evoking a time and place in the past.Unfortunately, in other respects the novel is weak.It's narrator and main character is Arturo Bandini , a young writer from Colorado who's moved to Los Angeles to be a writer. Bandini is fixated on Camilla , a Mexican waitress.( I refuse to accept the idea that he is in love with her).She loves the dying Sammy who doesn't love her.Nothing goes especially well and then it ends.This is not all that compelling.I've read that there are those who consider Ask The Dust one of the Great American Novels of the 20th Century .That baffles me.It has it's limited merits but there is no depth of characterization or observation here.Taken as storytelling , well it's not much.At this point ,it's a historic curio and little more.

I enjoyed this book a lot can't wait to read more of his work.

Das Buch kam innerhalb von 2 Tagen an und in perfektem Zustand - Sehr empfehlenswert!

Asombrado de que fuera la inspiración de Bukowski

The best book about Los Angeles and all.

Genius. Funny, sad and masterful writing. Seriously good.

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