"No matter how a man alone ain't got no ... chance"

Sounds depressing, nihilistic, suicidal - throw in a lot of rum and whiskey it's obvious why the author committed.

There is a realistically and creatively depicted tender love relationship amist all the booze, bozos, and low lifes.

This is classic Hemingway style. However some of the dialogue gets a little hokey and tiresome - have a drink, take it easy, rummy, punchie, cool him, he's tight, old woman, etc.