Status Updates From Inherent Vice

Finished Chapter 6, where Doc meets up with a lawyer, goes to the FBI files room with some Agents, and goes out to a nightly dinner with Motella & Lourdes.

I kind of get the vibe that the book is going with, like an average stoner, it usually wanders around aimlessly, but the mystery element of the book is pretty intriguing. Add on a mystery involving “The Golden Fang” and it’s a packed mystery with style.

Finished Chapter 5, where Doc, in disguise as a professional psychologist, goes to the house of Mickey Wolfmann’a wife, Sloane, to investigate.

Ok, so we are getting deeper into the mystery, plus there is a backstory on why a cop named “Bigfoot” became a police officer who worked alone. It’s going to be a wild ride Doc, but there will be a conclusion to the mystery in your midst.

A little less exciting so far than the other Pynchon that i’ve read, but i am digging the noir/detective angle. Still has that classic Nixon bashing and paranoia that i love

Finished Chapter 4, where Doc goes to his old friend Fritz and is shown the latest in 60s software.

Looks like we got some backstory into Doc’s life, some world building for the sandy shores of Santa Monica, and some new technology that Doc finds in the back room of Fritz’s office. I’m not sure if the book is dazed, since it may be stalling the overall plot, but a few breezy short chapters can take a load off.

Finished Chapter 3, where Doc goes to meet up with another cop buddy, this time it’s the cynical Pat.

Well, this is a nice short chapter compared to the other long ones where we get to learn more about the world of Inherent Vice and notice how Pat is much different than Bigfoot. He’s more cynical, has an “Art Fleming” look, and is less famous than the big shot cop. Will this come into play? Who knows.

This book makes me stoned

Finished Chapter 2, where Doc’s investigation takes him to an up and coming suburban town, a single mother, and his cop frenemy, Bigfoot.

Well, I can feel the disjointed energy of the story, yet the vibe that the book brings out, as well as the interesting character actions of the colourful characters, makes me invested in Doc’s dizzying adventures in the late 60’s. It’s a hippie-noir-thriller for the ages.