Gun, with Occasional Music (Harvest Book)
by Jonathan Lethem
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Read in October, 2007
Excellent. His style is as cold as Hammett's, and the moral core as strong as Chandler's. And any book that says both "In Los Angeles it's illegal to know what you do for a living" and "Tell him next time he wants to talk to me, don't send a marsupial" should be in everyone's library.
This character develops, is one thing somewhat new: he loses his early self-consciousness about his metaphors, and eventually solidifies enough to end a chapter with the brilliant line: &qu...more
This character develops, is one thing somewhat new: he loses his early self-consciousness about his metaphors, and eventually solidifies enough to end a chapter with the brilliant line: &qu...more
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Read in July, 2003
Sci-fi noir detective story. It's Blade Runner meets Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and exactly as goofy and dark as that sounds.
Conrad Metcalf is our narrator, a Private Inquisitor in a world where direct questions are considered rude and question marks are flashy punctuation. The story's filled with products of evolution therapy: talking kittens and mobster kangaroos, plus the mysterious babyheads -- toddlers with advanced intelligence that hang out in babyhead bars and babble their babyhead tal...more
Conrad Metcalf is our narrator, a Private Inquisitor in a world where direct questions are considered rude and question marks are flashy punctuation. The story's filled with products of evolution therapy: talking kittens and mobster kangaroos, plus the mysterious babyheads -- toddlers with advanced intelligence that hang out in babyhead bars and babble their babyhead tal...more
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I was in the bookstore today looking for a quirky bit of escapism. I had my hands on Christopher Moore's Lamb and then I walked by the row of Jonathan Lethem. I remember when Motherless Brooklyn came out and every time I went into a bookstore I'd pick it up, feel like I should read it, and then decide that I didn't really want to. And then I wrote him off. Turns out I shouldn't have. But at the same time I feel as though there must be a cult of Jonathan Lethem, and though I'll probably read ...more
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Read in December, 2007
It has a kangaroo walking into a bar, see? What's not to like? This was Lethem's first novel and it's just as confident and sharp as the rest. A dystopian noir detective novel of the future, Gun, with Occasional Music hits its tone well and sustains it evenly throughout. Some detail (including the occasional music of the title) is not as well-developed as I'd have liked. The plot develops in the Fahrenheit 451-A Scanner Darkly range, plus the expected Chandler-Hammett twists and complications. T...more
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Read in April, 2007
Okay... so it's science fiction mystery detective noir. Not much competition in that genre. But it manages to be good on all levels, as well as thrilling, funny, gripping, sad, thought-provoking, bittersweet and insane.
I admit I love Lethem's use of the language to invent a near future that is, weird as it is, not unimaginable. The novel's ambience is perfect and the characters are sympathetic and real (even the evolutionarily-accelerated talking animals) and the plot compelling. The onl...more
I admit I love Lethem's use of the language to invent a near future that is, weird as it is, not unimaginable. The novel's ambience is perfect and the characters are sympathetic and real (even the evolutionarily-accelerated talking animals) and the plot compelling. The onl...more
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Read in August, 2001
recommends it for:
Hard-boiled detective novel fiends
This is a clever, hard-boiled detective novel, wearing the pinstripe suit of a science-fiction novel. It is edgy, well-written, and a book that I was able to get through quickly (i.e. I wasn't bored). It set a strong mood throughout the story, and had a unique twist on the typically detective novel archetypes.
I still own this book, just in case I feel like rereading it. However it's likely I never will reread it, simply because all of the clever writing and imaginative setting couldn't ...more
I still own this book, just in case I feel like rereading it. However it's likely I never will reread it, simply because all of the clever writing and imaginative setting couldn't ...more
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Read in January, 1999
Wildly over-praised sci fi detective novel set in a surreal future where animals have been "evolved" to fill servile functions and everyone is addicted to their special blend of designer drug. I wasn't very impressed, especially after reading the fawning reviews from major critics. This isn't nearly as enjoyable as Mike McQuay's series of Mathew Swain sci fi detective novels. Lethem should leave the pulp writing to less pretentious authors and go have cocktails with his synchophant eas...more
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Read in June, 2005
recommends it for:
Kangaroos, babyheads and hardboiled detectives from the future.
I picked this up straight after reading Lethem's Amnesia Moon, looking for more of the same or a similar sort of vibe.
At first I didn't think I'd be into the hard boiled film-noir meets sci-fi aspect of things. But I completely surprised myself when I discovered that I was!
Being a bit of a sci-fi geek I was happy to see some original and fresh ideas thrown into the mix. Lethem definitely tells a good story and his brilliant use of description and prose keep everything flowing beau...more
At first I didn't think I'd be into the hard boiled film-noir meets sci-fi aspect of things. But I completely surprised myself when I discovered that I was!
Being a bit of a sci-fi geek I was happy to see some original and fresh ideas thrown into the mix. Lethem definitely tells a good story and his brilliant use of description and prose keep everything flowing beau...more
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Read in April, 2008
It's only knowing what comes later in Lethem's books that makes this feel like a first book, since others are, for example, more vulnerable, messy, and unresolved. But granting that, this is really assured-- the writing is top notch, both in writing in a Chandler style and in stepping past that when it needs to, it's original and strange, and the ending here really does work, which I don't think you can say for _Motherless Brooklyn_, despite that book's fervent devotees (me among them).
Reall...more
Reall...more
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Read in November, 2007
i read this in a matter of hours because that's exactly the kind of reading i was looking for. something that pulls you along with a little bit of sci-fi fantasy thrown in. it's fully guy noir writing that i wouldn't have guessed lethem was capable of, but he pulls it off brilliantly. set in the near future with walking talking animals and every has a personal brand of drug that they snort. other than that it's a who dunnit. imagine the "guy noir" stories on "a prairie home c...more
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Still my favorite Lethem book. I found this randomly when I was in seventh grade and it blew me away. At this point in his career (first book and all) Lethem had yet to be crowned the Savior of Mainstream Literature, hadn't diverged into Magical realism and was an SF writer. Gun... is a beautifully imagined world, a pastiche of noir, sf and literary conceit woven together with an amazingly mature hand for a first novel. Between the 'make,' the babyheads and the kangaroo, this is an amazing book.
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Read in January, 2008
I wish we could give half stars. This is really a 3.5 in my mind. It's sci fi, a genre that usually does not appeal to me, and detective story at the same time. Think Hitchhiker's Guide meets The Maltese Falcon. It has all the usual Lethem humor and truly pleasing moments, images you'll never forget and an interesting plot. But, ultimately, at the end, I didn't care much about exactly how it was going to end. The novelty had worn off for me. I still recommend it as a fun read!
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Read in August, 2007
I was exposed to the works of Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane in my late teens and haven't read any of their work since. This book was great fun to read! The inevitable comparisons to both Dick and Chandler are quite apt but, fortunately for me, it had none of the long-winded exposition that so encumbers Dick's work. Dark and serious, but with a street-hardened and smart sense of humor throughout, it's everything enjoyable about genre fiction-- without the guilt.
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I can't believe I found this book!!!
I googled random things I remembered from it and Bam, the it was!! I read it many years ago in Miami and I LOVED it!! My friend Dan Goldman lent it to me.
It's so creative and explores a future that's dark and creepy and mysterious... plus the entire population is hooked on "make" which is a kind of cocaine but it causes people to be drones who can't think for themselves. I'm going to buy it for sure.
I googled random things I remembered from it and Bam, the it was!! I read it many years ago in Miami and I LOVED it!! My friend Dan Goldman lent it to me.
It's so creative and explores a future that's dark and creepy and mysterious... plus the entire population is hooked on "make" which is a kind of cocaine but it causes people to be drones who can't think for themselves. I'm going to buy it for sure.
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Still the best book by one of the most overrated modern writers--and I've read everything he put out up until maybe that one about the kids who are superheroes. Motherless Brooklyn is good too, though. I always just get the impression when I read Lethem that he's trying hard to be symbolic, but it falls flat. Like there's nothing below the surface. I feel that way about Haruki Murakami sometimes too, though I like his stories better generally.
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I got this because it was on sale, I like Lethem and noir. It was all right, though way over on the ridiculous side. I mean, there was a kangaroo with a gun in many of the book's pivotal scenes. I mean, it takes place in the future, and a future including menacing, talking kangaroos is definitely something we should all strive for, but still - the book is not that great. Outside of the end. The end was pretty cool.
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Read in November, 2007
Lethem presents an interesting twist on the noir/detective genre. The novel takes place in the near future and the narrative's protagonist is a down on his luck drug addict detective who unravels a twisted plot involving molls, financiers, and walking/talking rabbits, who provide the muscle.
It's interesting, but not great. I enjoyed Lethem's other novel, As She Climbed Across the Table, much more.
It's interesting, but not great. I enjoyed Lethem's other novel, As She Climbed Across the Table, much more.
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I can't really explain why this is one of my favorite books. I guess I just really enjoy the mix of pulpy, hardboiled detective with old fashioned sci-fi.
I didn't like this book the first time, incidentally. I took it out from the library when I was 14 years old, and never finished it. I don't know why I tried it again a few years later, but I'm glad I did. I enjoy it more each time I read it.
I didn't like this book the first time, incidentally. I took it out from the library when I was 14 years old, and never finished it. I don't know why I tried it again a few years later, but I'm glad I did. I enjoy it more each time I read it.
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Read in November, 2007
I've been having a hard time getting into books lately, so I took Edan's advice and picked up a detective novel. This is a self-conscious genre piece, winking at it's lineage in a po-mo kind of way, and so far I'm liking it.
Just finished - a good, fun read that sticks to the noir blueprint while also being quite inventive. I'm still not exactly sure what a "babyhead" is, though.
Just finished - a good, fun read that sticks to the noir blueprint while also being quite inventive. I'm still not exactly sure what a "babyhead" is, though.
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3 comments
truly uninspiring prose, but not uninspiring like philip k. dick. this is faceless, odorless, and tasteless. nifty ideas packaged to sell as chandler-esque whodunit. chandler is a lot more rewarding. this book features animals living side-by-side with humans, wearing clothes, walking on hind legs, checking out your amazing ass, etc.
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