"Ask the Dust" by John Fante is a story set in LA in 1939, following the struggles of writer Arturo Bandini as he lives hand to mouth, blows his money as soon as he receives it, and falls in love with a waitress named Camila Lopez. Their relationship is portrayed as a love-hate dynamic, filled with volatile emotions and irrational choices. As the plot unfolds, Camilla ends up in a mental institution and disappears into the desert, leaving Bandini grappling with his own shortcomings and desires.

The writing style of "Ask the Dust" is described as dark, beautifully told, and capturing the essence of 1930s Los Angeles. The novel is praised for its vivid portrayal of dive bars, cheap rooms, and the struggles of a young writer beset by love and affliction. The relationship between Bandini and Camilla is depicted as a blend of bitterness and warmth, with tragic characters and gorgeous prose creating a brief yet rewarding narrative that keeps readers engaged until the poignant ending.

Characters:

The characters are complex and flawed, particularly the protagonist Arturo Bandini, whose struggles and growth are central to the story, while Camilla Lopez represents both complexity and tragedy.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by its vibrant and poetic prose, creating a hypnotic rhythm that conveys raw emotional experiences and evocative imagery.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative centers around a young writer's life, framed in an autobiographical context, detailing a love triangle and personal struggles rather than a conventional plot.

Setting:

Set in 1930s Los Angeles, the novel captures the atmosphere of struggle and despair prevalent in the Bunker Hill neighborhood.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout, reflecting the emotional highs and lows of the characters, ultimately culminating in a powerful and impactful closing.

One night I was sitting on the bed in my hotel room on Bunker Hill, down in the very middle of Los Angeles. It was an important night in my life, because I had to make a decision about the hotel. Eith...

Notes:

John Fante's writing is highly praised for its beauty and rhythm, often compared to Cormac McCarthy and Paul Bowles.

Ask the Dust features a love triangle that is secondary to the character development.

Arturo Bandini, the protagonist, is based on Fante's own life, making the story autobiographical.

The book's prose is described as electric and hypnotic, with many readers marking multiple passages as noteworthy.

Fante's metaphors, while occasionally criticized as forced, are largely celebrated for their originality and depth.

Charles Bukowski, a famous writer, regarded Fante as a significant influence and called him a 'god' of writing.

Ask the Dust captures the essence of the 1930s Los Angeles setting, offering a gritty view of life during the Great Depression.

Readers often relate to Bandini's flaws, making him a complex and engaging character despite his narcissism and self-doubt.

The book is considered an underground classic despite its mixed reception, resonating with themes of artistic struggle and unrequited love.

Fante's characters are depicted as deeply flawed, making for realistic and relatable narratives dwelled in despair and aspiration.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of addiction, racism, mental health struggles, and depictions of poverty.

Has Romance?

Romance is a significant aspect of the narrative, primarily focusing on the tumultuous relationship between Arturo Bandini and Camilla Lopez.

From The Publisher:

Ask the Dust is a virtuoso performance by an influential master of the twentieth-century American novel. It is the story of Arturo Bandini, a young writer in 1930s Los Angeles who falls hard for the elusive, mocking, unstable Camilla Lopez, a Mexican waitress. Struggling to survive, he perseveres until, at last, his first novel is published. But the bright light of success is extinguished when Camilla has a nervous breakdown and disappears . . . and Bandini forever rejects the writer's life he fought so hard to attain.

Ratings (7)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (2)

Reader Stats (15):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

marnut381

Loved It

9 months

The characters and writing style are top notch. Loved every book in this series and all are worth reading.

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Ask the Dust

John Fante

Book 3 in the series:The Saga of Arturo Bandini