re:mote voices

Title: A Confederate General from Big Sur
Author: Richard Brautigan
Publisher:Rebel Inc.

A Confederate General is the third novel by Richard Brautigan that I have read, and of the three it is perhaps the least straight and most straight. Sombrero Fallout and The Abortion had a certain absurdity that was clear and central, and reminded me of the things I like about writers like Russell Hoban and Haruki Murakami. Confederate General, I suspect, is more of what gives Brautigan his reputation, the ideas that he foretold the beat generation, the free love of the 60’s. This coming from the central characters of Lee and Jesse, who kind of drop out and lead that kind of alternate life style. This book comes across as being more about the poverty and culture of a time. Though at the same time there is still a certain level of experimentation – sudden chapters which are collections of letters – or humour – the host of croaking frogs who can only be shut up by shouting “Campbell’s Soup”. A second reading will probably provide a greater enjoyment, being more aware of the kind of thing to expect, but from this first I have to say this was the least of the three.