Nick Cave’s The Death of Bunny Munro

Nick Cave’s 20-year-later, follow-up to his first novel “And the Ass Met the Angel” is a charming, shocking, hilarious, horrifying, sweet, filthy and at times moving tale about the last journey of a sex obsessed, travelling beauty product salesman whose comfortably carnal existence is thrown into a tailspin when his depression suffering wife commits suicide and he thrust into the all too unfamiliar role of father and guardian to his 9 year old son. All while trying to understand the premonitory sense he feels of his own impending doom.

As the story begins, Bunny Monroe is quickly defined by his obsessive sexual appetite. His every thought and motivation is driven by the pursuit of flesh which, thanks to his enigmatic magnetism and a variety of accommodating prostitutes, waitresses and lonely housewives, is never in short supply. But his sexual mania has come at a severe cost. Bunny is completely detached from any real emotion and is constantly left wrestling with confusion when he feels any within himself or when it is displayed by anyone else.

He doesn’t understand why his wife, who perhaps Bunny felt was unaware of his rampant philandering, would destroy his cherished wardrobe before hanging herself in their bedroom while wearing the same negligee that she wore on their wedding night, or why her friends and family would glare at him with such vehemence at her funeral. “What’s up with them?”

Completely numb and desperate to suppress the emotional tidal wave of mourning, regret and fear building within him, Bunny heads back out on the road hoping to escape the haunting memory of his wife bringing with him his son Bunny Jr. who, despite everything loves his father with an awe-struck adoration, and may be his only chance of salvation.

Anyone familiar with the brilliant prose of Nick Cave’s lyrics as the front man for “The Bad Seeds” (originally “The Birthday Party” and occasionally “Grinderman”) will immediately recognize his gift for allegorical adjectives. However what’s most fascinating about the style he employs here is how the writing changes ever so subtlety every time the focus switches between Father and Son.

Bunny Sr.’s flows like a rambling stream of consciousness, occasionally spiked by moments of acute lucidity. Constantly shifting from light-speed to staggering daze and quickly back again. Bunny Jr.’s story is told with a much more contained voice. Everything about him feels straight forward and simple without ever being plain and without ever being obvious. Which is what makes Bunny Jr. the real heart of the book.

The Death of Bunny Monroe is not for the faint of heart or the easily offended, but for those who are able to see past constant wave of highly explicit sexual tangents, there lies what is ultimately a story about a boy and his father that is as heart-warming as it is breaking.

For readers who are unfamiliar with the music of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds I’ve selected the following songs from their catalogue that would make for an appropriate sound track for Bunny Monroe – which will be developed into a feature film.

This would be a great way to discover some great music. Click here for the book’s official site.

As I Sat Sadly by Her Side
Hallelujah
Into My Arms
Papa Won’t Leave You Henry
No Pussy Blues
Easy Money
Brother My Cup is Empty
Supernaturally
Deana
More News from Nowhere
Babe, I’m on Fire
Midnight Man
Red Right Hand
Get Ready For Love
The Weeping Song