Comments on: Tony Anthony andRobert Haydon Jones

By: Margot Kinsey Jones

Margot Kinsey Jones — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 17:24:38 +0000

I know I’ve read a good piece when my first reaction after finishing is “I want more!” Each vignette in the “Sweet Bye and Bye” begs Rob to expand and tell me more about: the Choir; George in Spain with Dad; the Marines; and why women love men who love women. I’d like to share a quote from John Cage I think Rob and Tony will like: Begin Anywhere.

By: Charles L. DeFanti

Charles L. DeFanti — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:54:46 +0000

Here it is again, the deftest of short fiction. I love the little grace notes, like “the blur of alcohol and the pervasive strain of melancholy,” which set the tone of the story in the precise and economical way essential to such stories, like those of Irwin Shaw and John Cheever. The illustration tamps down the mood, preparing you for the jolts ahead.

By: Mark Liberman

Mark Liberman — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:37:41 +0000

I sing praises for this glimpse into yonder blue light! Has everything I could identify with!! Great piece.

By: Dave Monroe

Dave Monroe — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 18:45:51 +0000

A stark reminder of how asleep at the wheel we can all be — a miracle forgotten as if it were only trivial wiping of dust; a miracle remembered, and then the rush of awakening; and, yes, the ‘goose-bumps’ of life and sex and death. Visceral and sublime — nice work!

By: Matthew Levine

Matthew Levine — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 03:41:33 +0000

It always helps to have a father’s blessing when you go and shtup a choir girl! RHJ has a way of making me squirm, as if his stories are my own fantasies and suddenly they’re out in public. Here’s the line I wish I hadn’t read because it’s so true: He was greatly admired, very successful and utterly miserable and sad most of his life.

By: malachy McCourt

malachy McCourt — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:52:21 +0000

This story allows one the liberty off not feeling foolish about another life beyond. we can declare an armistice on any war we have had with the erring parent to wit “there’s nothing more you can do to me” Jolly good sex on demand too . The choir would have loved it

By: sean beaudoin

sean beaudoin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:57:30 +0000

Firstly, I love the painting. Has a very Cezanne feel. Not a copying, just a slight homage. Great brush strokes and color choice. I also think this is RHJ’s best piece on this site. For the first time it really feels like his genuine voice without the conventions of what’s generally expected from short fiction to inhibit it. I’m not entirely convinced by the ending. I wanted more nuance from Nicole. But up until then I felt like he’d really hit his stride.