This book is like 90% atmosphere--all of it reminiscent of that cover. There seemed to be a narrative push near the end there where our protagonist really felt the need to confess the dying homeless man (did I read that right?). The book switched from a poetic narrative describing 1) Walker's transformation from Vet to Journalist; 2) the paths his journalism leads him down; 3) hints of Hollywood Noir moviemaking; 4) the steady destruction of Old Los Angeles to make way for parking spots.
I think the correlation between "man at war" and the helplessness of the city (as a character) to remain unique or unchanged was interesting--woulda liked it more central to the expression of the book; instead we get hints of this idea "What had been a blaze of neon, streetlights, lit windows, becomes a smoldering ruin of blue." If that's not a metaphor for the mind of a man at war, I don't know what is.

This idea is reinforced, not by the words of the narrative, but of the juxtaposition of the separate voices in the book. One (in bold) appears to be the diary entries of Walker that, as the book progresses, become increasingly...erratic; another (in italics) is the story of Walker at war. These are interspersed with descriptions of the City's destruction and rebirth, and with Walkers journalism, and, later, his interactions and search for Billy Idaho.

Solid thoughtful book that has given me a lot to think about, and demands a re-read.