I think this was a really awful book. I read the entire book because it was a) short and b) probably intellectual and deep and I just didn't get it.

I had not read Russell Banks Before. Not sure I will After. I found this book terribly offensive but with the idea that it was maybe SUPPOSED to be offensive. I have no idea. The depiction of Native Americans! For shock value? Making a statement? Cringe-worthy.

It was written in the 70s and then reprinted several times so I must be missing something. I see it is supposed to be a humorous allegory of life in the 70s in LA in suburbia. I totally did not get it. Was it supposed to be funny? Humorous it was not. Although I have no issues with LGBTQ people, I could not figure out why everyone was participating in gay sex, mostly non-consensual. WTF??

Okay, I did not get it. Born too late into a politically correct world, perhaps? ( )

I feel like there is a Rosetta stone out there that will explain this book. It's about Vietnam. But it's also a fairy tale. and it's also crazy. It also doesn't read like ANYTHING else Banks has written.

Banks' first published novel. Short, slightly absurd, often humorous chapters combine to create a moving book. Feels a bit like Donald Barthelme. Unlike any of his later works. ( )