esrosedotblog

WINNER

My best book read this year won the National Book Award in November and is now on the 'notable' list for the year in the NYTimes.

Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke is a series of connecting stories of the Viet Nam war from both the VN and US point of view.

There is everything in it.

I really enjoyed it a great deal and I am very happy to see that Johnson is getting some recognition.

He is also the author of Jesus Son which I have not read but I did see the innovative movie with Billy Cruddup--also wonderful.

This is a big year for Johnson who does not give many interviews and when he does they are grudging exercises in obfuscation.

Good for him. He saves himself for the work.

Labels: books