D.J. takes on Provincetown.
R.I.P. Denis Johnson.

This book gets a 3.5 from me. Generally, when I don't really like any of the characters in a book, I don't like the book. In this case, I didn't really like anyone but still found myself drawn to the story, the inner monolog of the main character and some really good writing. Not sure who I'd recommend it to, but I did like it more than I thought I would.

Leave it to Johnson to give us a book as insane as the main character of this one. It sucked me in, but I definitely felt Lenny's confusion. He's nuts...there's just no other way to say it. The book is wild, and good. Johnson has lived up to his reputation yet again.

by turns strange, funny, eerie, and really gross (i'm lending the book to my mom and there is a section on animals in test laboratories that i am just marking for her as not to read because it would upset her too much), this neo-noir detective story is written in a direct and beautiful style. Like many of Johnson's other books, it explores the sometimes creepy conspiracy-like elements of religion and why people keep trying to find faith even when they barely have it (but it explores this in an interesting way, not a corny one). It was really engrossing and hard to put down.

Not my favorite Denis Johnson book, but still very affecting. Like most of Johnson’s novels, Resuscitation shows deep care for characters who are lost and looking for meaning. There’s a kind of imperfection in metaphor which is one of the most endearing qualities, in my opinion, of Johnson’s writing — both in his poetry and fiction. Here’s one from the protagonist in the throes of an awkward sexual encounter: “I feel like somebody’s writing swear words on my balls.” If you’re a fan of Denis, you’ll love it. If you’re just starting to read him, I’d say read Train Dreams or Jesus’ Son first.

What a disturbing book. I kept thinking the protagonist was dead (probably just his soul was dead). If he succeeded with his suicide attempt before he moved to Provincetown, that would explain plenty about his personality and potency.....he was very zombie-like. The ending was perfect for a soul-dead guy -- prison as heaven. My favorite part was the big drag show at the beginning....and P-town was a great character.

Gospel is not a door. It’s a wall.

A supremely odd and wonderful novel, and a great introduction to the aura of Provincetown, Mass.

I read this book over the last month of my father's life—kept it in my briefcase to read while at the hospital or doctor’s office. Even so, it held together amid all the interruptions. Held me in its grasp. Johnson is one of those writers so in control of his material and yet so out-of-control (or giving up control) that you ache from his honesty.

This is a great novel, probably one of the more underrated novels Denis Johnson wrote. I've read it twice, with about eight years separating each reading, and it's still as moving and touching as it was the first time.

Leanna came back to his mind. She likes to put her head on his chest and listen to his heart. “How could one person ever hurt another after doing this?” she’d asked him the first time. “But we do.”

3.5/5

It’s really hard for me to comprehend the thoughts I have or don’t have after finishing this. What a strange, strange book. The writing is phenomenal; often poetic, existential, and a nice, easeful transition away from the beat stuff I’ve been reading in recent months.

One thing I really noticed about this book: in spending 257 pages with the protagonist, Leonard English, we seem to learn everything and nothing about him. We know very little of his background as far as upbringing goes, and he’s just a very mysterious character. Throughout the book he is very concerned with the spiritual aspects of life, questioning and not questioning God, faith, love, etc. He’s a character that seems to contradict himself nearly every step of the way, making him even more of a mystery to me.

The air this book has around it is so intriguing. I cannot recall the last time a book made me feel this strange. I feel there’s like a cloud of ambience and grey hovering around me after reading of a man’s struggle against himself. Idk idk idk.

Worth the read? Probably? Very interesting for sure; it obviously kept me wanting to read as this is the quickest I’ve finished a book in many months, but hot damn I have no idea what to make of it. I imagine I’ll be sitting with this for a little while, and I certainly wouldn’t mind returning to it in the future.