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What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

Posted by Vish Khanna on Oct 30, 2009

Hey everyone. Hope all is well. Aw, it's kind of bittersweet around here today, as we say goodbye to our October book of the month, The Death of Bunny Munro by world-renowned musician and writer Nick Cave. It's sorta sad isn't it? Like losing a friend? Well, on today's show you'll hear how I wrapped up my conversation with Cave and find out what his plans are over the next little while.

Hear Nick Cave discuss all this right now....

As I announced last week, our book of the month for November is Our Noise: The Story of Merge Records by label founders/Superchunk bandmates Laura Ballance and Mac McCaughan, and journalist John Cook! Congrats to the four of you (especially you there in Finland; hello!) who won copies of the book! I hope you enjoy it! As it happens, I have four more free copies of Our Noise to offer to the 15th, 22nd, 28th, and 31st people to e-mail feedback@cbcradio3.com with their shipping address and "Merge Book Contest" in the subject line! I want someone from Sweden to win a copy today.

WINNERS:

PAT MCPHILLIPS (WINNIPEG, MB)

JOHNALD TEETER ESQ. (LONDON, ON)

ADAM GAVIN (SAINT JOHN, NB)

TOMMY GOUGH (TORONTO, ON)

BONUS WINNER!!! JOEL LIDQVIST (NORRKÖPING, SWEDEN)

And today's Bucky Award nominations are for "Best Live Act" and "Best Song of 2009." Please vote so they let me outta here...

What are your final thoughts about The Death of Bunny Munro? Are you now keen to check out future projects by Nick Cave? Do you have any Merge Records releases in your collection? Ever been to Finland?

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  1. daa1982
    01

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by daa1982

    I am very keen to check out future projects by Nick Cave.  It sounds like his next project will be the second album of his trim-downed band "Grinderman"; this excites me.

    Never been to Finland. 

  2. suman
    02

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by suman

    Hi Vish,

    i am starving. Just thought you might like to know that you are not alone.

    Cheers,

    Suman

  3. aaadamaa
    03

    Hunger

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by aaadamaa

    I messed up my sandwich's this morning.  There's mayonaise where there shoudn't be.  Long story short, my tongue hurts.  I've lost interest in food for the time being.

    But I'm super thirsty, but I'm out of cups.  Does that count?

  4. wr
    04

    me too

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by wr

    I'm often hungry, so I totally know what you mean, Vish.

    Like, I just had breakfast, and I'm already looking forward to lunch.

    Do you like spanokopita? Just wondering.

    Wendy

  5. suckamc
    05

    final thoughts.

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by suckamc

    keeping this short, need more sleep.

    It was a good, dark, disturbing book.  I was happy with how it ended.  It was tough to read and find much to relate to.  Will probably check out any future works by Mr. Cave.

  6. kankakee
    06

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by kankakee

    "Under the Banner of Heaven", by Jon Krakauer. This book is about fundamentalist mormons and a murder that took place by followers of this sect of Moromonism. It also really explores the history of Mormonism.

    By the author of "Into the Wild", this book is really good. I would write more about it but I am off to work in 5 minutes.

    On an unrelated note, Vish, you are an awesome DJ. I rely on you to learn about great Canadian bands that aren't well known in the U.S. Keep up the good work!

     

  7. kankakee
    07

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by kankakee

    oh wow I thought the subject was what we are reading, not this Nick Cave stuff. Oh well I am a self-admitted space cadet. My bad!

  8. TheRadioHead
    08

    Like losing a friend?

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    My final thoughts are, with friends like Bunny, who needs enemies.   I will not check out future pro ects by Nick Cave.

     

    Never been to Finland, can't believe I slept until 7:30, love my 4 day work week, am second on the waiting list at the library for the new book, he  key on my keyboard for the middle letter in the word "pro ects" does not work. 

     

     

  9. mynameismoe
    09

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by mynameismoe

    i could really go for a poppyseed bagel and a coffee. i don't have any bagels, and my single cup coffee maker has a knife hole in the mesh. i'm also very tired today. i went to see cuff the duke, which was a very good show.

    i borrowed this months book from martin and started reading it the other day, it's interesting so far i suppose. i really hope i win the next book, but if i don't i'll just cry myself to sleep and then continue reading the death of bunny munro.

    i'm kidding. i probably won't cry, but i'll be very sad. i can pretend i'm from sweden...?

  10. suckamc
    10

    @TheRadioHead

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by suckamc

    Is the key you're missing V?

  11. TheRadioHead
    11

    @kankakee

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    Have you read "Into Thin Air"?  I found this to be  Krakaeur's best work.  Possibly  because the sub ect matter was fascinating, and so foreign to me.  I recommend it if you have not read it.

     

  12. TheRadioHead
    12

    Keep guessing, Martin!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    You're getting closer, only 20 guesses left.

  13. LeyLey
    13

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by LeyLey

    I am currently reading the book of negroes... amazing book... bawled my eyes out yesterday... excited to read more of it

  14. aaadamaa
    14

    @TheRadioHead

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by aaadamaa

    Copy a j ?Then paste (ctrl + v) when you need it?

    Crude and temporary, but it works.

    Or just leave it out, that works too.

  15. TheRadioHead
    15

    @aaadamaa

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    I actually think our alphabet could be only 25 letters long,   Except for my friends names  enelle, and ohn,  I get on pretty well without it.

     

    Besides, it has kept Martin occupied all week...

  16. TheRadioHead
    16

    Magneta Lane

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    Now there is one group I would love to hear on The Breakfast Club.

  17. Bio Spice
    17

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Bio Spice

    hi team book-club!

    final thoughts: I liked the way it ended too... though i'll admit, the whole demon rape thing kind of came out of no-where for me... and all the cement trucks... if we traced back through the book all the times we saw that cement truck, would we get something out of it? no?  and who's going to take care of Bunny Jr.?  Angry grandmother?  Probably.  will she get him a new encyclopedia?

    i would not rush out to read another Nick Cave novel, but having never (conciously) heard his music but have music-savvy friends who love it, I'd like to check his music out.  And perhaps that movie... starts with a P? 

    Thanks for the push to get and read this book, Vish.

     

  18. aaadamaa
    18

    @TheRadioHead

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by aaadamaa

    Has it been broken that long‽

    I've never noticed.

    Wow, I guess you really don't need that letter then...

    It hasn't shown up in this message at all...

    I love Radio 3!

    Mornings suck.

    Now I'm Just rambelling.

    THERE IT IS!

    Your right, let's drop it.

  19. Benoit from Ottawa
    19

    @ aadamaa

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Benoit from Ottawa

    Hush and finish up your lime ello, then. Before anuary comes around. Or in any case before next une.

    ;)

  20. RedVinyl
    20

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by RedVinyl

    I ordered Death OF Bunny Munro last week from our local bookstore, and I love it so far. I really like Nick Caves writing…even in song he is a great storyteller. The song Carney (Nick cave and the Bad Seeds) is great example of that..well I think so. Ummm I have never been to Finland, all though I would love too. I own a gaggle of vinyl from artists on Merge records.

  21. TheRadioHead
    21

    25 letter alphabet

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by TheRadioHead

    merely= ust

    gelatin= ello

    1st month= anuary

    6th month= une

     

    The only word I have not found a suitable replacement for is  ustice.

     

  22. tb3
    22

    My thoughts…

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by tb3

    So, I am only with about 10-15 pages left but in effect done. I almost finished it last night, but what with getting our H1N1 vaccines last night, and shopping for my Halloween costume, I was really pushing to get that far. As it was I think I need to re-read about the last 2 pages again anyway.

    Here's my feelings about this book.

    I think the book says more about the reader as it does the author. It starts out with a pretty alarming bang, and from the first chapter you are aware of Munro's despicable ways. I found it very much like reading Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh in that respect (Welsh coincidentally has a buy this book quote on the back).

    It's hard to get to attached to any character when you find their behaviour morally reprehensible. And that was what I found about this book. Even the character Bunny Jr was kept out of the main story, just enough for you not to get too focused on the tragedy this his life will be. You are banged over the head… repeatedly reminded  just what a shitty person Bunny is.

    So much so, that you don't even care when very late in the book the notion is slipped in that Bunny Sr. was just as bad. I thought as that chapter played out, why even bring this in now? Bunny is so far gone, you don't even care why, period.

    But getting back to my idea about it revealing more about reader… I think everyone who reads this, is doing so for two reasons: Like craning at a car wreck, you are waiting to see just how distasteful he will get; and, secondly with a thread of hope that something redeeming will present itself in Bunny.

    And depending on your outlook, whether you see inherent good in everyone or you choose to assume the worst preemptively, we all let his character have a different legth of leash before we let go.

    For me, I got as far as the part where he takes the rings. That was where he lost me. He went from being shitty, to a lost cause.

    And that was when it occurred to me this book was less about the story and more about the person I am. I let him get pretty far with the benefit of the doubt. And I do that in life. I wanted to believe in some small kernel of redemption.

    The book was neither great, nor bad. It just was.

    Revealing as it was. 

  23. Jenelle
    23

    @LeyLey

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Jenelle

    Book of Negros is really good. My copy is being passed around my circle of friends at record speed! The end is also very rewarding.

     

    I'm reading A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving and although i really like it, its taking me forever to get through it. Unless I win a copy, I don't think I'll get around to getting next months book club book because I've got the new Margret Atwood buring a hole on my nightstand.

  24. teamquentin
    24

    re: What’cha Readin’? The Death of The Death of Bunny Munro by Nick Cave + Our Noise!

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by teamquentin

    I spent 2 months in Turku, Finland last year. I was part of the entertainment install team on the Independence of the Seas cruise ship there. Great people, had a blast!

    I actually saw lots of Nick Cave hype in the CD stores there... also popular? Danko Jones! I saw Raised Fist play in a club there and it was off the hook... those Finnish kids can throw down.

    Anyway, I'd love to go back anytime.

  25. tb3
    25

    and merge in my library

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by tb3

    According to their current roster, I have these bands in my music library:

    Arcade Fire, Lou Barlow, Caribou, Conor Oberst, Dan Bejar, Destroyer, Dinosaur Jr, The Magnetic Fields, Neutral Milk Hotel, Polvo, Portastatic, Pure, Seaweed, Spoon, Superchunk, Teenage Fanclub

  26. Bio Spice
    26

    tb3 wins the bookclub award

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by Bio Spice

    holy smoly tb3, gone from non-reader to in-depth book analysis writer. nice nice very nice!

    i think you and i might be pretty similar... but he didn't completely lose me until the Avril Lavigne look-alike junky scene.  jeezus.  i kind of didn't get it when he took the rings. what can i say, i'm a cock-eyed optimist (cue South Pacific soundtrack).

    i'd agree with you that all books/art are seen and interpretted through our own lens which is made by our own experience, personalities, etc.  for sure.  that's what makes talking about it with others interesting.  yes?

     

     

  27. tb3
    27

    HAHAHAHA! @Bio Spice

    Posted on Oct 30, 2009 by tb3

    I was even going to footnote a self directed mock for being the person last year at this time teasing all you readerly folks, and being not interested in reading. And now, here I am.

    Who knew? :)

    The Avril Junky scene was a point where I almost put down the book and said, okay now you're just trying way TOO hard to make this character a maggot. I actually want The Mushroom Dave to split Bunny's head in half with the golf club at that point. But I am a father of a little girl, so I knew that was entering in the petrie dish so-to-speak.

    Yah… so… I read.

    I guess.

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