That's the first verse to a Bob Dylan song called "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues." I thought it was particularly appropriate, given Acosta's references to Dylan, and his appreciation of Dylan, throughout the book. That he ends up in the same situation (or at least a similar one) as Dylan's protagonist in the song warns of, I think, is highly ironic. It actually makes me doubt the validity of Acosta's fervent claim that "the fucking book is true." It seems as though his time in Juarez could be apocryphal; simply a representation of Acosta on his last legs, before finding a measure of salvation in the Brown Power movement.
Thoughts?
1 comment:
I guess music is pretty symbolic in the book. One might contend that this arises from all the drug use: more drugs, more sensuality from music. One way or another, his various forms of entertainment and pleasure are also his demons, and they end up giving him the Juarez Blues.
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