Thomas Pynchon lived in a beachfront area similar to that depicted in 'Inherent Vice'. I'm a Pynchon fan but was not aware of some biographical facts such as that until I saw this interesting biography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwXLDvAk5LA
Thanks, that's great! I took the book out of the library. $27.95, for the hardcover no doubt. He sounds like he doesn't like that. Even the paperback is probably $15. I'd look in the used stores first. :/
I was down there in the general vicinity in 2001, a motel in Inglewood, and I went to the beach several times, sort of brings it back.