GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC
Jonathan Lethem
Books for Bigots
Another in the series of Books for Bigots now includes GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC (1994) by Jonathan Lethem. One may ask why I write these articles about the books that I have read when most people, if not all, are not in the least interested in what I have to say about them. First, they are an effort to steer Bigots away from books that might offend them in some way. Bigots, as we all know, are easily offended.
Secondly, the world doesn't need any more writers, it needs more readers. There are thousands of books being published. scooted out of the publishing houses into an eternity of oblivion. Almost all do not make a ripple in the public consciousness. This is unfortunate. Books take time and thought to write and many provide either knowledge or incite into our lives or the age we live in.
Thirdly, authors actually garner some pleasure knowing that someone has read their book and, further, has taken the time to think about it. A pat on the back as you might say. The internet as we know is a powerful medium in which to publish your thoughts, if any you might have; and, it is easy, as you can see from my efforts.
I don't consider myself an expert in anything and I am not a literary critic as they are in academia or intellectual circles. But I do read books and it seems to me a good thing to publicly comment on them whether the comments have any value or not; hence, GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC. This is what appears to be a mystery with a seedy, unsuccessful, vulgar, and addicted private investigator, Conrad Metcalf, who in the book is referred to as a "private inquisitor". There are some interesting features to the book: prison sentences are referred to as "the freezer". One is frozen for the number of years to which they are sentenced and awoken when the sentence is completed. The now ex-con has no memory of the years frozen; it's as if they didn't miss a day.
The authorities are pretty much the bad guys though and this will not set well with Bigots since most Bigots rely on the authorities to reign in the most egregious behavior. There isn't much sex, but what there is is fairly graphic. Once again, the modern world does not view sex as as some sort of metaphysical event to be enjoyed by unhappily married couples only. There is some violence and apparently everyone is using "make" - - a powdered form of mental enhancement. This I know would fall outside the ambit of Bigotry approval - - one does not rely on illegal or legal mind enhancing or altering drugs to make it through the day.
So once again, it must be said that GUN, WITH OCCASIONAL MUSIC is not for Bigots. They simply would not be able to cope with the life depicted in the book and it is better that they don't attempt to read it.
Richard E H Phelps II
Mingo
