Denis Johnson

[ArtVandoley]

I've read Resuscitation of a Hanged Man, Jesus' Son, and most recently, Train Dreams. Denis Johnson writes in a cryptic, haunting way, but it's concrete and realistic at the same time. Train Dreams reminded me a bit of Cormac McCarthy.

What do you think of Johnson? Any recommendations for what to read next by him? I've had Tree of Smoke for a while but haven't gotten around to reading it.

[mcelroy]

i've read train dreams


david foster wallace recommends incognito lounge

[Dean W.]

I recently read Jesus' Son and was impressed by Johnson's narrative style. I love that we can empathize with a protagonist that is an accomplice in the murder of baby bunnies, robs houses of copper wiring, pays for pills the size of eggs, comprised of unspecified substances, becomes a peeping tom on a Mennonite family and mixes reality with the lucidity of his dreams so that the two become indistinguishable as he teeters on the edge of his destruction. I wanted to crawl into the world Johnson had created and walk along the halls of the disabled home with the protagonist, our only job to touch people. I've read Angels, Fiskadoro and Tree of Smoke..all of them are amazing, but Jesus' Son was probably my favorite. I haven't read Train Dreams...maybe I'll see if I can find that next...