Part of the incentive to read this novel was a reaction against "50 Shades of Grey" (I'll read some REAL literary erotica!) but there is actually very little sex in "Tropic," though there are plenty of sordid details about the female anatomy and an overabundance of the word 'cunt'. Enough intimate scenes to warrant banning the book in 1930-40s America and igniting a censorship battle. So, okay, yes this was scandalous in the pre-war years a la "Lady Chatterley's Lover" but the content pales in comparison to some of Chuck Palahniuk's books, for example, and it didn't really trigger a shocked/offensive reaction. At this point, our culture is so saturated with sex that 'cunt' isn't so much a gasp-inducing dirty word as it is a physical fact (probably more like how Miller thought of it anyway).
The writing style and philosophy of "Tropic" reminded me of Hunter S. Thompson and particularly Jack Kerouac -- capturing a fast and disorganized, chaotic lifestyle in stream-consciousness format with a heap of absurd comedy. A celebration of being poor/unemployed/drunk with friends. Miller was surely an influence on Kerouac, but I adored "On the Road" and had a much more sympathetic reaction to that novel than I did "Tropic" (maybe because of the location? Americana vs Paris?). I kept picturing scenes from the movie "Moulin Rouge" with the stereotypical and romanticized Parisian brothels.
Bottom line: "Tropic of Cancer" didn't hold any novelty for me, though it was moderately interesting and well-written. In the 80-some years since it was written, most of the story's become cliche (oh a starving artist in Paris! oh he has quite the rampant sex life!), but on second thought is probably still relevant via the Occupy movement.
Regarding Henry Miller & sexism: The Devil at Large: Erica Jong and Henry Miller
Regarding recent criticism of "Tropic of Cancer": The Male Mystique of Henry Miller and Response Letters
Regarding the awfulness of "50 Shades of Grey': 50 Shades of Argh by Erica Jong
