Thom Jones
As a writer, Jones is like Tyler Durden's older brother. He writes about the culture of boxing and war (same thing?) with the type of skill you just wouldn't expect from someone who'd been pounded in the skull as much as he has. His first book, The Pugilist At Rest, a great collection of short stories that would be the best place to start off.
(2 votes)
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Thom Jones' short stories are fucking brilliant. He's been a massive influence on my writing and my life. While reading The Pugilist at Rest in 2000 I kept getting goosebumps. Most of my friends and family have recieved copies of his books for presents. He hasn't written a bad story. If you are a Thom Jones fan check out Rumble, Young Man, Rumble by Benjamin Cavell - and The Fighter and Rust and Bone by Craig Davidson. If you haven't read Mr Jones then please do. And someone please tell me...Where is Mr Jones? When will he release a novel or another collection? I've been waiting patiently for years.
Gareth
London
This is why I love the Cult. I mean it introduced me to so many authors that I might have got around to eventually like Clevenger, Harry Crews and Joey Goebel but I have never come accross a copy of a Thom Jones book in Ireland. Before I went to New York I looked up the old Cult recomends pages and took some notes.
That lead me to getting a copy of Cold Snap in the Strand bookstore ad that book has reignited my love of short stories. Which reminds me I need to stock up on some more.