How do you know it is gratuitous? Have you read the book?
I haven't, and know nothing of it, except that the book itself is still in stock on amazon.com, so it's not out-of-print or something he's tried to hide.
Interseting to see how this plays out. Did any of the critics who reviewed this book when it came out make any mention of these passages?
Who cares, he wrote it, it's weird, and if people don't like it taht is his problem. maybe it's a great book, but you don't expect your minister or senator to write it. If a guy makes a porno movie maybe it's his Constitutional right, but he has to recognize people might not elect him Pope or Senator thereafter.
I haven't read the book. I have read the relevant excerpts. It seems gratutitous to include scenes where a man puts his sons penis in his mouth. Like I said, call me stodgy.