[Haruki]

Bukowski was my god in my early teens. It was entirely through his mentions that I discovered Fante. In fact it was Bukoswki that turned me onto classical lit. and even classical music. As I age I agree that he was a tad macho but I'd be a different person entirely if it wasn't for him.

The two Fante novels you mentioned probably aren't his best although "Ask the Dust" is the one most generally revered for some reason. "The Brotherhood of the Grape" and "West of Rome" are very accomplished and more mature works. "The Road to Los Angeles" is simply the ne plus ultra of modern writing in my eyes. If you want memorable read the crab killing section of that book. I'm smiling thinking about it.

I was very young when I read Miller. Memory tells me he wrote a fantastic amount of sh't interspersed with the odd bit of brilliance. Verbose is the word that springs to my mind when he's mentioned. The very opposite of Fante in fact.

Have never read London or Twain I'm afraid. So many books, so little time.