[2] Bukowski wrote some of his most violent, cynical, sarcastic, and shocking work during the final months of his life.

Many critics have agreed this novel exemplifies Bukowski showing an acceptance of his own pending mortality.

[4] Louis-Ferdinand Céline always hangs around a book store, where he reads a few pages, and gets kicked out by the owner for not buying anything.

As a farewell to readers, as a gesture of rapprochement with death, as Bukowski's sendup and send-off of himself, this bio-parable cuts as deep as you would want.

"[6] The song "Private Eye" by the Chicago melodic punk band, Alkaline Trio, is a reference to this novel as a whole.