Ask the Dust

John Fante

Ask the Dust by John Fante is not widely known, but has become a “cult favorite” among the cognoscenti. Fante’s semi-autobiographical short novel, written in the late 1930’s, about a struggling young author in LA in the early 1930’s is a very special “period piece.” It is a unique slice of life that thrusts the reader into the seedy side of life in Los Angeles. The main character, Arturo Bandini is a struggling writer who falls in love with a Mexican waitress. It is impossible to describe the characters of the relationship in ordinary terms, which is why the book must be read, not reviewed.

If you like the offbeat, enjoy gut-wrenching honesty, and have a taste for powerful earthy literature, then this is a book you will find unforgettable. Many will love the story; others will wish they never bothered to read it. Few will be indifferent. I liked this book, and recommend it.

Review by Len Oppenheim