Bonnie G.’s review of Fat City > Likes and Comments

And if you haven't seen it, the movie is a must-see.

Jon wrote: "And if you haven't seen it, the movie is a must-see."

I just learned it existed. This book was made for John Houston to direct the film. And Jeff Bridges is Ernie!! I am on it. Thanks for the tip, Jon.

Sarah wrote: "Well, I'm in! Adding, Bonnie. I may also gift my father a copy: growing up, he learned to box in order to survive his East San Jose neighborhood!"

Interesting about your father! This story is set in Stockton, which feels perfect. It is super gritty, really rough, I can't think of a better evocation of a very specific group of people in a very specific place and time. I am awed.

My son is a boxer, but his mommy did not allow him to compete so he still has a pretty nose.

I liked what you wrote better than the excerpts. Where's your book?

Julie, I should pay you for how good you make me feel. Thank you!

Oh my god. I'm in too. First, your review. Second, Denis Johnson. Why have I never heard of this book before??

Thank you Bonnie for being such an exquisite reader - your list is so wide-ranging. I so admire that.

Robin wrote: "Oh my god. I'm in too. First, your review. Second, Denis Johnson. Why have I never heard of this book before??

Thank you Bonnie for being such an exquisite reader - your list is so wide-ranging. I..."

Back at you. Robin. You are forever unearthing books I have never encountered. When I got to GR I had a type when it came to books/authors, but that type has expanded and morphed and includes so much more now. My GR friends get a lot of the credit for that. (I never used to seek out slow and humorless books, but this crew has made me appreciate their value. I am pretty sure that is a good thing . . .)

This is not a book for everyone, but I think you will love it. I knew it existed because years ago Denis Johnson wrote about it somewhere, The Paris Review or the New Yorker I think. When I read that my son had just started boxing. He was obsessed with films with boxing themes and I was trying to find books he might like with those themes so I added it to the list. It took years for me to get to it, Gardner was a long-form journalist and screenwriter, I don't think he wrote another novel. It is a shame because he is a writer's writer. I have heard the John Huston film (Gardner wrote the screenplay with Huston) is a masterpiece but I have yet to see it. Funny story, he wrote for NYPD Blue because the showrunner loved this book and searched him out, and at the time Gardner had never owned a TV and had never seen a cop show. I can't wait to get your thoughts on this.

Ooh! Your prediction of not reading a better book this year plus the grittiness of the novel make this a quick add. Great review, Bonnie!

Candi wrote: "Ooh! Your prediction of not reading a better book this year plus the grittiness of the novel make this a quick add. Great review, Bonnie!"

Thanks Candi! I hope you love it. The prose just punched me in the face over and over, and somehow I wanted to keep letting hit.

Fantastic review, but one that has me so conflicted. On the one hand, your ecstatic claims about it being the "most stunning prose" you've ever read and the best book you'll read all year are obviously enticing and hard to ignore. But the subject matter itself sounds soooooooo dreadfully boring to me. For context, I'm the weirdo that thinks Scorsese's Raging Bull is highly overrated. So ummm, yeah, not sure about this one. 😬😅

James wrote: "Fantastic review, but one that has me so conflicted. On the one hand, your ecstatic claims about it being the "most stunning prose" you've ever read and the best book you'll read all year are obvio..."

Hmmm, I love "Raging Bull" (agree to disagree), but I think this bears more resemblance to "Requiem for a Heavyweight" or "Somebody Up There Likes Me." I am not sure if that sweetens the pot for you. It is a great and very gritty book, but it might not be a match for you -- for instance, I respect the hell out of Cormac McCarthy, but the subject matter of the books I have tried just hasn't done it for me. (Also, thanks for the nice compliment!)

As much as I adore your review, I'm going to hold off on adding this to my Watchlist for now, as it's likely to be a mismatch. Too many books already on there that I'm far more confident I'll enjoy. At the current rate I'm going, I'll be lucky to finish even just a quarter of them before I croak!!! 😩😭

I could swear I wrote a comment about this review at some point. But maybe I've just been hit in the head too many times lately.

James wrote: "As much as I adore your review, I'm going to hold off on adding this to my Watchlist for now, as it's likely to be a mismatch. Too many books already on there that I'm far more confident I'll enjoy..."

I have the same issue, and I am much closer to likely croaking than you. I am sure that you will find many wonderful books to read that do not have a boxing theme.

Left Coast Justin wrote: "I could swear I wrote a comment about this review at some point. But maybe I've just been hit in the head too many times lately."

Stop with the getting hit on the head, Justin! I promise I did not delete anything you have written, so I assume you did not comment on this. Maybe something else I read about conflicted masculinity and white supremacy? There are one or two or a hundred other options for those themes in my reading history, The important thing is that you are here now, and this is a really great book,

I can tell it's a really great book, and I fully intend to read it this year. Thanks for the strong review.

I look forward to reading your review, Justin!