Jesus' Son

Jesus' Son Stories

Denis Johnson2009
Eleven stories narrated by a young recovering alcoholic, whose dependency has led him to crime, cruelty, and loss in the Midwest, depict the disparity of emotions that constitute the American experience.
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Reviews

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly
5 stars
Jan 25, 2025

Perfect, of course. Funny, utterly crushing and very very gorgeous.

Photo of Patrick Book
Patrick Book@patrickb
4 stars
Jul 5, 2024

Like all that Beat nonsense, but not shitty.

Photo of Nicole Dykeman
Nicole Dykeman@holobookthief
1 star
Aug 25, 2022

A big fat nope from me. I just...did not get it. I felt uncomfortable the whole time I was reading this, and came out of it feeling icky and gross. This story collection offers a dark, gritty glimpse of the world through the eyes of a very unlikeable narrator and I just did not enjoy myself. And if there was a lesson that was to be learned from this narrator’s disastrous life, it went right over my head.

Photo of Katie Chua
Katie Chua@kchua
4 stars
Aug 13, 2022

i first read "emergency" freshman year fall quarter. that story has stuck with me ever since. denis johnson is one talented writer.

Photo of Melody Izard
Melody Izard@mizard
4 stars
Jan 10, 2022

Stories that are connected by drugs and the promise they make. And despite the contrary reality, the promise is held dear and close and is believed above all other things. Yeah - they make you feel just like Jesus' son. However that is supposed to feel.

Photo of emma li
emma li@emli
5 stars
Jan 10, 2024
Photo of Kiryl K
Kiryl K@kkrll
4 stars
Jun 17, 2022
Photo of Alex Noble
Alex Noble@alexnoble
4 stars
Aug 3, 2024
Photo of Jackson Weaver
Jackson Weaver@jacksonweaver
5 stars
Jul 4, 2024
Photo of Mat Connor
Mat Connor@mconnor
4 stars
Jun 25, 2024
Photo of Barış Yarsel
Barış Yarsel@pagan
4 stars
Jun 15, 2024
Photo of lara anand
lara anand@lizarrrd
4 stars
Jun 14, 2024
Photo of Josh Kuiros
Josh Kuiros@joshkuiros
5 stars
Jan 30, 2024
Photo of Hobbes
Hobbes@crookedbowtie
5 stars
Jan 8, 2024
Photo of iamazoo
iamazoo@iamazoo
4 stars
Jan 6, 2024
Photo of Dane Jensen
Dane Jensen@danejensen
5 stars
Dec 19, 2023
Photo of Will Vunderink
Will Vunderink@willvunderink
3 stars
Dec 18, 2023
Photo of Claire Matthews
Claire Matthews @clairefm
3 stars
Aug 2, 2023
Photo of Anna
Anna@annarussett
4 stars
Jul 1, 2023
Photo of Peter Boyd
Peter Boyd@peterboyd
5 stars
Feb 6, 2023
Photo of Aaron McCollough
Aaron McCollough@rondollah
5 stars
Jan 9, 2023
Photo of Rikki Doppler
Rikki Doppler@rikkidoppler
3 stars
Nov 3, 2022
Photo of Taelyr Vecchione
Taelyr Vecchione@taelyr
3 stars
Sep 9, 2022
Photo of Chiyeung lau
Chiyeung lau@chiyeung
5 stars
Aug 29, 2022

Highlights

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly

The day was ending in a fiery and glorious way. The ships on the Sound looked ike paper silhouettes being sucked up into the sun.

I had two doubles and immediately it was as if I’d been dead forever, and was now finally awake.

I was in Pig Alley. It was directly on the harbor, built out over the waters on a rickety pier, with floors of carpeted plywood and a Formica bar. The cigarette smoke looked unearthly. The sun lowered itself through the roof of clouds, ignited the sea, and filled the big picture window with molten light, so that we did our dealing and dreaming in a brilliant fog.

People entering the bars on First Avenue gave up their bodies. Then only the demons inhabiting us could be seen. Souls who had wronged each other were brought together here.

Photo of Sarah Christine Gill
Sarah Christine Gill@Gilly

We bumped softly down a hill toward an open field that seemed to be a military graveyard, filled with rows and rows of austere, identical markers over soldiers' graves. I'd never before come across this cemetery. On the farther side of the field, just beyond the curtains of snow, the sky was torn away and the angels were descending out of a brilliant blue summer, their huge faces streaked with light and full of pity. The sight of them cut through my heart and down the knuckles of my spine, and if there'd been anything in my bowels I would have messed my pants from fear.

Georgie opened his arms and cried out, "It's the drive-in, man!”

“The drive-in.."I wasn't sure what these words meant.

"They're showing movies in a fucking blizzard!" Georgie screamed.

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