as his first book to go "mainstream," i had always heard it described as one of his most bildungsroman/young man stumbles through sexuality themed, but i think this rather undersells it. it's definitely the most straightforward of his fiction i've read (and the earliest) but it had a lot to say (to me at least) about mental health and the struggle to bridge incomprehensibly different internal worlds. sex, wells, spiritual blockers, cats, music (more pop than jazz in this one), and food of course all play a feature role.