rho21's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jayden_mccomiskie's review against another edition
5.0
I've read this book more times than the 4 counted here. I will read this for the rest of my life. I want to know every syllable by its name.
dgroeneveld's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
myqz's review against another edition
5.0
Johnson seems to find the right word, in the right place, every sentence. This prose sucked me right in, made me wince and smile, convinced me I’d bumped into these characters before at a bar or gas station. Dark and destitute vignettes written with so much conviction and honesty that humanity is always present, even in hallucinations.
sarah_dietrich's review against another edition
4.0
Denis Johnson's work Jesus' Son is a string of tales in the form of short stories, which are best read in order. Our protagonist is an ex-junkie and still a bit of a reprobate, sharing his stories of getting up to no good with gorgeous eloquence. Beautiful writing, convincing snapshots of a surreal life without meaning and without the search for meaning.
nickdleblanc's review against another edition
4.0
For the first four stories I was a little lost as to why so many people consider this a classic. The fifth and sixth stories, "Work" and "Emergency" convinced me. This is really just a short novel more than a collection of short stories. It's a bit disjointed and unreliable, but it's on purpose. You're in the mind of a heroin addict. The prose is sparse and well edited. Though there are some strange grammatical choices which I'm sure were made to reflect the feeling of thoughts occurring within thoughts (as this is all narrated in first-person) but, even so, they stuck out a bit and detracted from the mood. Mostly it is often-aped short story fare, unresolved plots, implications of events which aren't seen or heard, shades of intense characters, and the sharp edges of heavy sadness and romance protruding through every so often. I wish "Two Men" was a bit longer or that the storyline had been revisited later. Overall, a solid read.
evergreenreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0