86'd: A Novel

By Dan Fante

In Los Angeles, struggling telemarketer-writer and part-time drunk Bruno Dante is jobless again. The publication of his book of short stories has been put off indefinitely. Searching the want ads for a gig, he finds a chauffeur job. When Bruno calls the number in the ad, he discovers the boss is his former Manhattan employer David Koffman, who is opening a West Coast branch of his thriving limo service. Koffman hires Bruno as resident manager of Dav-Ko Hollywood under one condition: he must remain sober. But instant business success triggers an abrupt booze-and-blackout-soaked downward spiral for Bruno, forcing him to confront his own madness as he struggles to keep his old familiar demons from getting the best of him yet again.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Sep 22, 2009
• ISBN: 9780061959127

Dan Fante

Dan Fante is the author of the memoir Fante, the novels 86'd, Chump Change, Mooch, and Spitting Off Tall Buildings, and several books of poetry, short stories, and plays. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son.

Reviews for 86'd

[Willy Billy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Semi autobiographical account of Dan Fante falling through new mid life depths of drunken Hollywood depravity. The only good in his life seems to be his writing, but it always takes a backseat to his limo job and his narcissistic alcoholism. Really great read.

[dinoreader · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

20th Century Crime and Punishment, California style.

Internalized, drug addled, narcissistic, genuine and . . .

" . . . To our right was a hundred miles of Pacific Ocean. There'd been a storm and the sea was choppy. I began counting the sets of waves as they crashed in on the shore. We headed south back toward Los Angeles."

[andafiro · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

(Adding this to my library now though I read it some time ago--this title just now showed up as a recommendation and I want to confirm that yes, it's a good recommendation. ;-)