My Old Kentucky Bookclub + WIN THIS! : Nick Cave autographed copies of The Death of Bunny Munro

Anyone who witnessed the drooling mass of sub-humanity that was Nick Cave onstage with The Birthday Party back in the early 80s would have been hard pressed to imagine the singer living to see the next sunrise, much less becoming one of the elder statesmen of popular music. And yet, going on 30 years later, Cave continues to surprise and impress. His catalogue of high-quality live and studio releases with The Bad Seeds would be sufficient for most artists, but not Cave, who in recent years has added novelist, screenwriter, soundtrack composer and bit actor to his business card. He also found time to pick up the electric guitar and toss off Grinderman, a raunch-n-roll project that left listeners feeling like they needed a shower. And did I mention his rejected script for the sequel to Gladiator? So, with yet another solo record on the horizon, Cave apparently figured the time was nigh for another novel (And The Ass Saw The Angel, Cave's 1989 foray into fiction, was met by largely favorable reviews, and more importantly, managed to avoid the dreaded "vanity press" label).

Stripped of its accoutrement, The Death Of Bunny Munro is the story of a man caring for his son in the wake of his wife's unexpected suicide. Pretty banal stuff, but where lesser scribes would have applied a heavy coat of maudlin or poignant, Cave wisely opts for sordid and surreal. In fact, The Death Of Bunny Munro can in many ways be read as a companion piece to Grinderman's eponymous debut; a burning, self-mocking celebration of man's basest desires. As I alternately marveled and cringed at Bunny's endless parade of door-to-door carnal exploits (most occurring while his unsuspecting son studies his beloved encyclopedias in the car) I couldn't help but be reminded of Updike's Rabbit series. Certainly, Bunny is the super-sized version of Harry Angstrom, but the similarities are many, including the whole name thing and sexual fantasies involving lithe pop starlets (Donna Summer giving way to Kylie Minogue and Avril Lavigne).

The Death Of Bunny Munro is not a page turner in the traditional sense. Early on, readers are tipped off exactly where Bunny's joyride will end, then invited to sit back, relax and witness the carnage. With final destination firmly established, Cave propels the story via discovery, using Bunny to explore his favorite themes (anyone for sin and redemption?), slowly peeling back the layers to reveal ever darker and more universal truths. Make no mistake, this isn't a morality tale. Cave remains detached; by-the-book observe and report, but The Death Of Bunny Munro is a dark ride. It's also wickedly, and frequently laugh-out-loud, funny. And if it wasn't so damned revolting, I'd be tempted to call it delightful.

The Death Of Bunny Munro Giveaway...

MOKB has procured three copies of The Death Of Bunny Munro, signed by Mr. Nick Cave hisself. Hardcover even. And we're giving them away. But you gotta deliver the goods. It's been suggested many times that, in recent years, Cave is looking more and more like somebody's sleazy uncle, so here's your chance. If you want one of these books, you need to email MOKB one of the following:

• a picture of your sleaziest uncle, OR, if you don't have your own sleazy uncle,
• a picture of Nick Cave as a member your family (Photoshop, cut and paste, crayons, whatever)

Easy as that. MOKB will post the best entries, and maybe, if you're lucky, your sleazy uncle will finally be worth something to you.

MP3 : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Bring It On

--------------------------------------------------------

Official Site | Nick Cave | Grinderman | eMusic | Subscribe To RSS Feed | Follow MOKB on Twitter