Language hat has begun Mason & Dixon, so has had a few entries of interest (and will probably continue to) for Pynchon fans. First, an odd examination into some of the more obscure words in the book. An interesting discussion followed in the comments, along with a tangential link to Zak Smith's illustrations for every page of Gravity's Rainbow. Today, he points to a Bookforum article regarding the release of GR in 1974.
Even reading about Pynchon can be a daunting task. Phew.
I thought Gravity's Rainbow made an excellent door stop. Vineland, less so.
Posted by: fat asian baby at June 6, 2005 08:36 AMGravity's Rainbow is one of those books I love but hesitate recommending to others. In fact, Pynchon as a whole I hesitate recommending. Difficult books (GR is long, rambling, and erratic in style) risk being too opaque to many readers, and difficult books that also receive critical praise risk irritating those people. I hate that I couldn't get through Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, but whatryagonnado? I suspect that it's as great as people say, yet I just could not follow the narrative with its seemingly dozens of similarly named characters.
You at least have to admit that Pynchon has gotten back to door stop form with Mason & Dixon.
Posted by: sstrader at June 6, 2005 10:57 AMI have yet to get my sticky paws on that one, but I have seen it winking at me in hardcover, which would indeed provide the necessary heft to hold back the weight of any door.
Posted by: fat asian baby at June 7, 2005 04:23 AM