Take one look at the cover of Nick Cave’s newly released (today – 3rd of September as it happens) novel, The Death of Bunny Munro (Canongate), and one would be forgiven for thinking that the world had suddenly turned a bit camp. There’s an overbearing theme here and that theme is unmistakably pink ‘n’ cuddly flavoured. One skim of the cover blurb though paints a very different picture:
Bunny Munro sells beauty products and the dream of hope to lonely housewives along the south coast of England. Set adrift by his wife’s sudden death and struggling to keep a grip on reality, he does the only thing he can think of – with his young son in tow, he hits the road.
While Bunny plies his trade and his sexual charisma door-to-door, nine-year-old Bunny Junior sits patiently in the car, exploring the world through the pages of his encyclopedia.
As their bizarre and increasingly frenzied road trip shears into a final reckoning, Bunny finds that the ghosts of his world – decrepit fathers, vengeful lovers, jealous husbands and horned psycho-killers – have emerged from the shadows and are seeking to exact their toll.
Ahhh..now I know what’s going on. I think what we have here is a cunning juxtaposition, because other than knowing already that Nick Cave doesn’t do pink ‘n’ cuddly (his first novel, And the Ass Saw the Angel (Penguin) is about a vengeful mute), I have it on good authority (respected book blogger Kimbofo) that this book is most definitely not for the faint of heart.
So maybe it’s more of a Psychoville meets Avon kind of novel, which for me is all the more appealing. But that still leaves a problem with that the overly pink cover (complete with pink ribbon bookmark you’ll notice). It all looks a bit too girly.
But do you know what? I’m not bothered! I’m secure enough in my sexuality to be not in the slightest bit phased about reading a book that looks like this in public. After all pink is the new black isn’t it? Expect to hear me talking about The Death of Bunny Munro (and any homosexual insinuations directed towards me while I’m on public transport), in the very near future.
Canongate Books | 03 September 2009 | £16.99 | HARDBACK | 288 PP | ISBN: 9781847673763
About Rob
Thanks for the link!
I think the description of Pyschoville meets Avon is pretty much on the money!
And I know the book is pink, but there’s definitely nothing girlie about it. It’s one of those books that seems crude and offensive to begin with, but I found myself really getting into the narrative, and more than two weeks after having read it, I’m still thinking about poor deluded Bunny Munro. It’s hard not to feel sorry for him.
says:
Hi Kim,
.
Thanks for stopping by and giving bit more opinion on the book. Yay me on the description, and I haven’t even read it yet
Warmest
Rob
Here’s the cover we’re getting in the U.S. from Faber & Faber. Somehow I think you guys got the better deal fluffy pink bunnies and all.
http://www.amazon.com/Death-Bunny-Munro-Novel/dp/0865479100/ref=sr_oe_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1252428664&sr=1-1
I’ve never read Nick Cave before, but I read kimbofu’s review and am looking forward to picking up the book (and yet feel strangely dirty about it at the same time). Can’t wait to read your thoughts.
says:
@Booksexy – With total respect to Faber and the US cover designer, I think the UK did get a better deal on the cover design for Bunny Munro. Something which I failed to mention in the post, was the designer for UK cover. It was one of Canongate’s favourites – Gray318
I honestly have to wonder if the pink was meant to be ironic or if it’s simply a giant (embarrassing) mess-up… And huh, the U.S. cover is creepy.
says:
@Biblibio - You think? Nah! Definitely a conscious design decision. The pink and cuddly juxtaposes the harsh content fantastically
Biblibio -
Beyond creepy. If I hadn’t read the review and seen the UK edition I’d be totally turned off the book. I just think the fuzzy pink bunny will be more intriguing to someone browsing through a bookshop. How could you not pick that up just to see?