Reviews Gun, With Occasional Music By Jonathan Lethem

As I sit here, still reeling from the mind-bending journey that was “Gun, With Occasional Music” by Jonathan Lethem, I can’t help but marvel at how I stumbled upon this gem. It was a rainy Saturday afternoon, and I was browsing through a small, dusty bookshop in London when the title caught my eye. As a music journalist, anything with “music” in the title tends to pique my interest. Little did I know I was about to embark on a wild ride that would challenge my perceptions of both literature and reality.

From the moment I cracked open the book, I was transported into a world that felt both familiar and utterly alien. Lethem’s Oakland and San Francisco of the future are a noir detective’s playground, but with a twisted, psychedelic edge that would make Philip K. Dick proud. As a fan of both hardboiled detective fiction and sci-fi, I felt like this book was tailor-made for me.Gun, With Occasional Music By Jonathan Lethem2

The story follows Conrad Metcalf, a private eye or “inquisitor” in a world where asking questions is considered rude. Imagine my delight as a journalist, where my entire career is built on asking questions! Metcalf’s investigation into the murder of a urologist named Dr. Maynard Stanhunt quickly spirals into a labyrinth of corruption, memory-altering drugs, and evolved animals. Yes, you read that right – evolved animals. The image of a trigger-happy kangaroo enforcer is something that will stay with me for a long time.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is Lethem’s ability to seamlessly blend genres. The noir elements are pitch-perfect, with Metcalf’s sardonic narration evoking memories of Raymond Chandler’s Philip Marlowe. But then Lethem throws in evolved animals and mind-altering drugs, creating a cocktail of genres that shouldn’t work but somehow does. It’s like listening to a jazz fusion album where bebop meets electronic music – jarring at first, but utterly captivating once you get into the groove.

However, this genre-blending can also be a double-edged sword. At times, the plot becomes so convoluted that I found myself flipping back pages to make sure I hadn’t missed something crucial. The world-building, while imaginative, can occasionally feel overwhelming. There were moments when I felt like I needed a guidebook to navigate the intricacies of this dystopian society.

Despite these minor gripes, there were passages in the book that left me in awe. One particular scene that stuck with me was when Metcalf describes the “make,” a personalized blend of drugs that everyone in this society takes. Lethem writes, “The make was the law, the make was the religion, the make was the government, the make was the music.” This line perfectly encapsulates the book’s themes of control, addiction, and the malleability of reality. It reminded me of how music can alter our moods and perceptions, a topic I’ve often explored in my own writing.

Lethem’s writing style is a joy to read. His prose is sharp, witty, and often darkly humorous. He has a knack for crafting memorable phrases that stick with you long after you’ve finished the book. As someone who writes for a living, I found myself envying his ability to paint such vivid pictures with words. There’s a musicality to his writing that resonates with me as a music journalist – each sentence feels carefully composed, like a well-crafted song.

Reading “Gun, With Occasional Music” has made me reflect on the nature of memory and identity. In a world where memories can be erased or altered at will, what does it mean to be yourself? This question has lingered with me, making me ponder how our experiences and memories shape who we are. It’s also made me think about the role of music in our lives and how it can act as a powerful trigger for memories and emotions.Gun, With Occasional Music By Jonathan Lethem3

Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely, but with a caveat. This isn’t a book for everyone. If you’re looking for a straightforward detective story or a traditional sci-fi novel, you might find yourself frustrated. But if you’re willing to embrace the weird, to let go of your preconceptions and dive into a world that’s equal parts Raymond Chandler and Philip K. Dick, then you’re in for a treat.

As I closed the book, I felt like I’d just stepped off a literary roller coaster – exhilarated, a bit dizzy, and eager to go again. “Gun, With Occasional Music” is a reminder of why I love reading: it has the power to transport us to new worlds, challenge our perceptions, and leave us pondering long after we’ve turned the last page. It’s a book that, like a great album, reveals new layers with each revisit. And just like I’d enthusiastically recommend a groundbreaking new band to my readers, I’m now eager to share this literary discovery with fellow book lovers. Lethem’s debut novel is a bold, genre-defying work that proves that in literature, as in music, the most interesting things happen when you blur the lines between styles.

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