12/50: Inherent Vice

Inherent Vice, by Thomas Pynchon
5/5 stars
This is my 12th book in Rex & Jake's 50-Book Reading Challenge,
which is now tied 12-12. Full list can be found here.

I honestly don't know if I've read a more fun book. The language of this book is arguably the only time, definitely the best use of it, that jive/slang has worked as true as it sets out to in narration. In the same way prophetic philosophy can make you rethink your thoughts and angle on life, the tongue of this thing made me rethink writing and how language could and should be used. It comes across as natural as it does bonkers. It's a trip and a half, and it's just a downright blast. I for sure had reread entire sections at times because it's so wildcard, but even that was a joy! I just dug the wild craftsmanship of wording here. The plot is psychedelic noir, as goofball as it is grit, sure, and I was delighted by the inanity of points and characters, but that's something I've felt with other rides. The big difference here was I was stoked on pages of narration and action detail. I tend to lean keen on dialogue, given the concern that the exposition will drown out the pace, but this book, in all its 1970 glory, coming decades later with assassin-like precision of madness, was such a triumph of gleefully knowing how to deliver the wilderness of culture back then. Los Angeles was a labyrinth of change with weirdness filling up the cracks. I just enjoyed the absolute shit out of this.