Inherent Vice

A psychedelic pulp detective novel set in 1960s Los Angeles, featuring a hilarious cast of characters who Pynchon delights in playing off one another. One of the funniest books of recent times, offering great comedy in its cultural and historical references, wordplay, situations, and structure. The central mystery comes very close to being masterfully constructed and executed but lacks a truly satisfying conclusion, but it's about the journey and not the destination.

One sentence synopsis... Private investigator and well-intentioned hippie, ‘Doc' Sportello, cruises through LA amidst a creeping fog of paranoia... and marijuana. .

Read it if you like... the preeminent atoned mystery, ‘The Big Lebowski'. Pynchon has a lot more to say about capitalism and inequality, but both stories are full of likable weirdos. .

Dream casting... watched the PTA movie version post-reading and probably enjoyed it more than the book. The movie trims a lot of the fat, including a rather exasperating detour to Vegas I was thankful got cut.