tldr

Tropic of Cancer, Los Angeles edition: prostitution, petty theft, bad love, writing novels

indicative quotes

Los Angeles, give me some of you! Los Angeles come to me the way I came to you, my feet over your streets, you pretty town I loved you so much, you sad flower in the sand, you pretty town. [page 13]

A prayer. Sure, one prayer: for sentimental reasons. Almighty God, I am sorry I am now an atheist, but have you read Nietzsche? Ah, such a book! Almighty God, I will play fair in this. I will make You a proposition. Make a great writer out of me, and I will return to the Church. [page 22]

"I didn't know you had freckles." / "They don't mean anything." [page 42]

why bother?

Puts you in a reckless mood.

The beach chapter is awesome (in the original sense of the word).

themes

  • psychotic behavior: Bandini pours coffee on Camilla's table, then tries to give her a signed copy of his writing, then insults her in the inscription; Camilla tears up the article, then chases after Bandini to apologize, whereupon he slurs her
  • race: Bandini pines for a Mexican woman, angry at Mexican man for sleeping with white prostitute, feels targeted for being Italian
  • sex: Bandini's fear of sex rooted in Catholicism, blames earthquake on his loss of virginity