Dreaming of Babylon: A Private Eye Novel, 1942

It's not his best, but it's fun and funny, similar to Hawkline Monster in that it spoofs a pulp genre. Atypical for Brautigan, it involves suspense, which makes for a[n even] faster read, but takes away what I really like about Brautigan: with typical good books, you think, "Oh, I liked that, let's see what happens next;" with Brautigan, you think, "Oh, I liked that, let's go back and read it again" (bad for publishers, good for people who want an excuse to keep books they've already read).

(Jul. 2007)

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C (Indifferent). Rereading this now, I have to say, younger me badly over-rated this book. I don't get it. I can't figure out what's supposed to be entertaining or interesting about anything in here.

(Aug. 2023)

La trama è pressoche' inesistente: davvero poche cose allungate per fare di un racconto un romanzo. L'aggiunta di un mondo lontano nel passato nel quale il protagonista proietta i suoi desideri non salva questo testo dalla dimenticanza. Alcune buone metafore e battute, che ricordano bene Lansdale. Bella l'idea di una fine sospesa.

Vintage Brautigan! A classic in the genre of bumbling, incompetent detectives... One of his best books, this has been one of my favorite detective books of all time since I first read it about 1980. I own it in hard cover and paper. Brautigan has been one of the most influential of all writers in my life.

هر کسی واسه خودش رویایی داره که شاید بشه گفت به امید اون زنده‌س هر چند سعی میکنه که پنهانش کنه و به بقیه بروز نده و در مواردی تمام سعی خودشو میکنه تا فراموشش کنه و نمیتونه! در رویای بابل ریچارد براتیگان با نثر زیبای خودش تمام حس درونی این رویا رو به تصویر میکشه اینکه شخصیت داستان در اکثر مواقع در رویای خودش به سر میبره و حتی حضور در رویای بابل رو به زندگی واقعی ترجیح میده و در مواقعی تمام تلاشش رو میکنه تا رویاش show more رو هرچند به صورت موقتی فراموش کنه و به زندگی واقعی برگرده که البته ناکام می‌مونه به هر صورت توصیه میکنم خوندن کتاب رو به هر کسی که رویایی تو سرش داره! show less

one of the more focused stories i've read of brautigan's. it's sort of hard to really pinpoint a main plot in brautigan's work. it's so 'out there' it's an exercise just to experience it at times, never mind try to figure it out!
however, this novel is basically about the life of a private detective with the misfortune of being unable to stop himself from daydreaming. i enjoyed it.

been a while since i read this...im surprised by so many people disliking brautigan. ive checked out several of the libraries and sent them hate notes.
best detective novel ever.

Hardboiled detective op z'n Brautigans. Een downbeat privédetective met een neiging tot wegdromen wordt ingehuurd voor louche zaak. Niet volledig geslaagd, maar evengoed grappig en prima basis voor een filmproject.