John Fante
Full Of Life

THE REVIEW

I have always heard John Fante being talked about as a great writer. Critics praise the book "Ask the Dust" in a way that piqued my curiosity.
I have almost always bought used books, but the only Fante book I found at the flea market is this "Full of Life".
Before venturing into reading, I peeked at the online comments. "Flavor and spice". "Irony and tenderness".
I thought "Well, it looks like I spent those 5 Euros well".

Good thing it cost me little, because it didn't satisfy me at all. In fact, it left me with nothing, it didn’t move me, and every time I picked up the book, I didn’t have that desire to delve into the protagonists' story.
The autobiographical novel has a poor plot. It tries to be comic but is more tragicomic. The "bread and salami" style seems rather undefined.
There are so many absurd dialogues between the man (him, John Fante) and the woman (his pregnant wife). Pointless quarrels about the different ways of thinking between the two spouses. The appearance of John Fante's father, the best mason in California, is somewhat interesting.
A tough man who volunteers to fix the Fante couple's house, invaded by termites. Fante Senior will end up building a new fireplace for the newborn on the way.

In the final part of the novel, the figure of the father assumes an added value. The tender aspect surfaces. That's it.
On to the next read.