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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
Mild; some violent impulses in Arturo's character without graphic physical violence
Language
Some
Some adult language in the hard-edged literary voice
Sexual Content
Some
Adult romantic and sexual relationships depicted with literary candor; clear but not graphic
Substance Use
Some
Moderate alcohol use; drinking is a significant part of Arturo's life and the Depression-era LA atmosphere
Emotional Intensity
Some
Psychological tension around ambition, shame, racist impulses, and the cruelty of unrequited obsession
What this book is about
Arturo Bandini arrives in 1930s Los Angeles, broke and burning with ambition, and begins a turbulent relationship with a Mexican waitress named Camilla. John Fante's semi-autobiographical masterpiece is a raw and lyrical portrait of young male desire, creative frustration, and doomed romance, written with both cruelty and tenderness. Charles Bukowski called it his favorite book.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Racist language and attitude toward Mexican characters from the protagonist
Psychologically complex portrait of a flawed, often ugly young man
Reader Verification
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