When I started reading it, and when I finished it, I thought the same thing; this is a book that reminds me of Fitzgerald's novels.

Even if it takes place in a completely different geography, perhaps because it tells about recent times, perhaps because of its narrative style, it reminded me of him. A story that is dragged to unexpected and strange places and drags the reader along. I really liked its narration.

I read this author for the first time, but it won't be the last. I really liked his style. Dyar was a very rough character at the beginning, like an unkneaded dough. I always clearly felt the influence of existential philosophy while reading.

After all, the ending was also suitable for him. Whether it's the other characters or the Fas paintings in the background, they were all very vivid. I just wish we wouldn't suddenly abandon the stories of some characters, but of course everything doesn't fit into one book.

As a result, it was a quality novel. I read it with pleasure and I'm looking forward to reading the author's other works.

Nelson Dyar, a bored young bank teller in New York, impulsively quits his job for a hazy opportunity in post-WWII Tangier.

When he arrives, he realizes the promised job is non-existent, yet he fails to draw the right conclusion.

Suffering from ennui and self-delusion, he drifts into sketchy relationships and makes more bad decisions.

Mr. Bowles, a master of exploring the workings of an aimless mind, further complicates Dyar's confusion by persuasively introducing drugs into the story.

Almost from the start, despite occasional glimmers of hope in Dyar's delusional brain, there is an overwhelming sense of his ultimate doom as he stumbles around Tangier.

As in The Sheltering Sky, Mr. Bowles powerfully evokes the Tangier milieu, adding its mysteries and alien culture to Dyar's many problems.

This is not an uplifting book, but it is a powerful one, delving deep into the psyche of a lost soul in a foreign land.

A wonderful flip of a suburban interloper in strange lands unfolds. It delves into how the lack of respect for customs, a clear purpose in one's travels, and trustworthiness in oneself and others can gradually degrade the mental state and the soul. Throughout the story, there are colorful characters, exciting adventures, and vivid descriptions of herb-assisted mysticism that seem to mask the downfall of our antagonistic protagonist. The read is free-flowing, with our narratives shifting smoothly. Frequently, we pick up with a character as soon as they enter an area that the previous players had just exited. All in all, it's an entertaining and humorous ride. However, it takes a turn when unchecked paranoia and greed become overly consuming, leading to a different kind of outcome for our characters.

Living in Bangkok, one comes to anticipate encountering elderly, alcoholic sexpats. These individuals have journeyed here to squander their lives and perhaps meet their end in the embrace of a woman half their age, who is eagerly waiting to claim what remains of their savings. Strangely, they seem quite self-aware and are more or less harmless.

However, what one doesn't expect are the younger guys in their 20s and 30s. They have come seeking an escape from reality and have ceased to live as humans. Dyar, the antihero of Paul Bowles' Let It Come Down, is one such example. He makes mistakes repeatedly and descends into an absolute mess on a Withnail level. Like those disasters I've witnessed in Bangkok, he eventually realizes that he cannot flee from his own shortcomings. That being said, while it is not nearly as remarkable as The Sheltering Sky, Let It Come Down still has its notable moments.

It offers a glimpse into the lives of those who have chosen an unconventional path in a foreign land, grappling with their own demons and the consequences of their actions.

I got a little nervous when Bowles abandoned the panoramic intrigue of Tangier's ex-pat and indigenous schemers.

Particularly, lesbian Eunice Goode and call girl Hadija were left aside as Dyar embarked on an existential excursion past the limits of victimization and virtue.

However, I soon found that Bowles was up to the challenge.

To my mind, the descriptions of drug-induced paranoia and introspection were some of the best I've ever read.

The quote, "But even at the end of the night there would still be an ember of time left, of a subtle, bitter flavor, soft to the touch, glowing from its recess of ashes, before it paled and died, and the heart of the ancient night stopped beating," added a beautiful and poignant touch to the narrative.

It painted a vivid picture of the passing of time and the fading of hope, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Bowles' ability to capture such complex emotions and experiences through his writing is truly remarkable.

If it would have been a benefit to anyone for me to stand up and applaud at the end of this book, I would have.

After reading The Sheltering Sky, one can truly appreciate just how talented a writer Paul Bowles is. The Sheltering Sky was a rather trippy experience, and it was challenging to fully grasp some of its complex threads. However, it was an epic journey that one simply had to hold on to as Bowles led the way.

Let it Come Down, on the other hand, takes all of those loose threads and firmly anchors them in the reader's mind. It does have a few trippy moments, which is not surprising considering it was likely distilled in the reefer fumes of Bowles' mind. But whatever greatness it may have sacrificed in terms of the poetry of telling an epic, it more than makes up for with its pure, solid writing.

This is a great second novel and a very strong follow-up to The Sheltering Sky. It showcases Bowles' growth as a writer and his ability to create a captivating and engaging story that will stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.

A strange diaphanous veil seems to hang between the reader and the depth of the characters.

At the beginning, the characters remain somewhat elusive, as if hidden behind this intangible barrier. The reader struggles to truly understand their motives, desires, and inner conflicts.

However, it wasn't until the last few chapters that the main characters came to light with more depth.

Slowly but surely, their true natures are revealed, and the reader gains a more profound understanding of who they are and what drives them.

One aspect that stands out is the dizzying description of being high.

The author vividly portrays the sensations and emotions associated with this state, making it almost palpable for the reader.

This description adds an interesting layer to the story, perhaps highlighting the characters' search for escape or a different kind of experience.

Overall, while the initial lack of character depth may have been a bit frustrating, the final chapters more than make up for it, leaving the reader with a satisfying and thought-provoking reading experience.

What truly appealed to me were the vivid descriptions of Tangier and Agla. They felt so authentic, and that's because Bowles had spent a significant portion of his life in those places.

In an introduction penned thirty years after the book's initial publication, Bowles revealed that most of the characters in the book, with the exception of Dyar, were actually based on real people. This added an extra layer of interest and authenticity to the story.

He also wrote that by the time the book was published in 1952, Tangier had already changed. It was no longer the vibrant international city that he had so beautifully described in his work. His book, in a way, is like a precious photograph. It captures a specific moment in time, freezing it forever for readers to explore and experience.

It allows us to catch a glimpse of a Tangier that may no longer exist, but still lives on through Bowles' words.

Paul Bowles is truly one of my all-time favorite writers.

He is an undeniably odd figure, and his works often have a disturbing quality to them. However, what never fails is the elegance and masterfulness of his writing.

The Sheltering Sky is widely regarded as his masterpiece. I just re-read it after first coming across it more than 30 years ago, and it has always remained vivid in my memory. In fact, in some respects, I think this is the best of all his novels.

This novel is filled with palpable tension and an existential frisson that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. It would have made an outstanding movie.

Together with The Sheltering Sky and six or eight of his short stories, this novel firmly establishes Paul Bowles as one of the most important and fascinating writers of the twentieth century. His unique style and ability to explore the human psyche in such a profound and often uncomfortable way make his works truly unforgettable.

But have you ever seen the back of a twenty-dollar bill - on weed?

Half-Baked is the only "drug" movie I've ever been able to endure. All the others seemed as dull as watching paint dry. Maybe if you were on weed, it might seem entertaining.

LICD starts off well. The characters are interesting and relatable, and the setting is mystical and exotic. There's a woman with more money than she knows what to do with. I liked her. She spent most of her time throwing lavish dinner parties, bored out of her mind.

Problems emerged after Bowles introduced Dyar, the main character, to kif. From then on, the scenes consisted of one Hey-hey-we're-the-Monkees...on-weed scene after another. I assume we were supposed to feel something for Dyar because of the idiotic decisions he made. At first, when he was seeking something beyond the humdrum life he led back in New York, I was with him. Hell yes, Brother Dyar, life can become monotonous. But when all he did was have drug-induced daydreams/nightmares one after another, I couldn't have cared less. He got himself into trouble early on, and the only way out seemed to be checking out. I can understand checking out, but experiencing a drug-induced daydream is (I'm assuming) a lot more fun than reading about someone experiencing them. Near the end, I turned on the Kindle's text-to-speech and had daydreams of my own as the electro-voice droned nearby.

And the detours. Holy kif crystals, the detours. The moment a scene became interesting, I believe Bowles recognized it and tried to destroy it. It felt like riding uphill in a jalopy with two flat tires.

From 60% on, the book is closer to a one- or two-star read, but the first 50% was a solid four stars. It evens out to a mediocre, forgettable three.

A truly fascinating and enormously entertaining collection of characters populates this story, making it an excellent read. From the very beginning, the characters draw you in with their unique personalities and quirks. As the story progresses, you find yourself becoming more and more invested in their lives and fates. However, as the end approaches, the tone takes a very dark turn. The events that unfold are unexpected and deeply disturbing, leaving the reader with a sense of unease and sadness. Despite the darkness, the story remains engaging and thought-provoking, making it a must-read for fans of complex and well-written fiction.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. How often have we not felt that a change of environment would be just the right thing? Escape all that ties you down, have a new beginning, get the chance to set everything right, and receive the recognition you deserve.

To most of us, such a change would be just a little premeditated, but to Nelson Dyar, it is just an escape. Let it come down; the quote from “1st Murderer” in Macbeth is the equivalent of the fatalistic “Whatever!”. You could easily take it forward to the next Macbeth scene when Macbeth tells us that “I am in blood. Stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, Returning were as tedious as go o'er.” In other words, there is no turning back.

Arriving in the then International Zone of Tangier, Nelson Dyar, a former bank clerk, is supposed to take up a job in an acquaintance’s travel agency. A promising career in a land of opportunities. However, the travel agency turns out to be just the fronting of a few other shadier kinds of businesses – and in the course of the novel, we will know if Nelson Dyar is up to it.

But first, we will get to know Nelson Dyar a little better. Initially, he is a blank card, picked up for a Celtic Cross Tarot session with the standard set-up, the first seven cards representing “This Covers You”, “This Crosses You”, “What Lies Below”, “What Lies Behind”, “What Lies Above”, “What Lies Before”, “Yourself”. We are trying to establish who you are, what´s inside you, your dreams and hopes. Sadly, we see very little except the most urgent physical needs. You feel attraction, even a kind of love, but you are not able to interpret these feelings.

Will a change of environment change a person? To some extent, yes. Tangier just before the Moroccan independence is a place where wolf eat wolf. The Brits, the French and the Spanish are upholding an internal cease-fire with each part struggling to gain and maintain as much influence as possible. Opportunities are there for the taking, provided your moral compass is not too tightly adjusted and you have the right connections – or you are born wealthy. Either way, life can be easy if you know how to circumvent local legislation and you are not placed too far down in the food chain. But it takes skills, skills of the interpersonal kind which Nelson Dyar doesn´t have and thus he will inevitably end up as wolf food if not something drastic happens, the one chance that will change the game forever.

So, we walk out into the Moroccan night, looking for friends or alliances, building ourselves an armor, because deep down we know that none of the people we meet can be trusted. We get drunk in the company of strangers, because only when we lose the control can we bear the knowledge that we are not in control at all. Even when high as a kite on several pipes of kif, the mind does not expand, it does not open new doors of consciousness, only highlights the vast emptiness. Staying with Shakespeare, we may quote Hamlet´s last words; “The rest is Silence”.

Though it can be read as such, this is not a cautionary tale. It is more of an observation, watching how a man with limited prospects interacts with a society that in all ways differ from his hometown New York. How he, like an inexperienced spider on speed, entangles himself in a net he doesn´t even see. How one step leads to another and signs are not read. Paul Bowles does not judge neither Nelson Dyar or the people surrounding him. They just happen to be there at a certain point and play a significant role. To a certain degree, they influenced Nelson Dyar, and he could have made other choices, he could have stood up or held back, he just did not have it in him.

An enjoyable 4.5 read, generously rounded up to 5 stars, because I really like Paul Bowles and the pictures he was able to create in my mind.