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I really don't like Thomas Pynchon
Posted on 8/28/18 at 9:01 pm
Posted on 8/28/18 at 9:01 pm
I'm glad I got that off my chest. That feels better.
I have now read V. twice (about a 20-year gap in between readings) and started quite a few of his other novels without much success. I read a lot and generally like experimental, non-linear stuff but I just don't see it with Pynchon.
It isn't particularly engaging. I don't find his writing smart, witty, or even funny as many readers evidently do. His puns are awful.
If anything, his books are a practical joke played on the reader. And yet he's invariably part of the pantheon in pretty much any critical assessment of American greats of the past century.
Someone convince me otherwise
I have now read V. twice (about a 20-year gap in between readings) and started quite a few of his other novels without much success. I read a lot and generally like experimental, non-linear stuff but I just don't see it with Pynchon.
It isn't particularly engaging. I don't find his writing smart, witty, or even funny as many readers evidently do. His puns are awful.
If anything, his books are a practical joke played on the reader. And yet he's invariably part of the pantheon in pretty much any critical assessment of American greats of the past century.
Someone convince me otherwise
7
Posted on 8/29/18 at 1:12 pm to EmperorGout
I like his writing style more. I'm less of a fan of how he allows his experimentation with narrative spiral into a plot narrative that usually borders on incomprehensible.
There's a difference between unique narrative and plot structure and one that derails any sense of momentum. He crosses that line way, way too much.
That's where I get disengaged. I enjoy individual scenes, but they never flow together towards more. I do like his pure writing style more than I think you do, but it's the literary equivalent of a basketball player with a great crossover who misses every layup. Fun, but ultimately pointless.
There's a difference between unique narrative and plot structure and one that derails any sense of momentum. He crosses that line way, way too much.
That's where I get disengaged. I enjoy individual scenes, but they never flow together towards more. I do like his pure writing style more than I think you do, but it's the literary equivalent of a basketball player with a great crossover who misses every layup. Fun, but ultimately pointless.
Posted on 8/29/18 at 1:56 pm to EmperorGout
I have mixed luck with him. I liked Inherent Vice, but didn't care for V or mason dixon. Gravity's rainbow was alright but overly complex without the payout. I liked Cryiong of lot 49 when I read it but can't recall much about it.
I started bleeding edge but gave up pretty quickly as I just wasn't into it.
So I can't convince you. I put him in the category of writers that people only like b.c they are so inaccessible and you can feel better than others for reading them. I put DFW and James Joyce in this category.
I started bleeding edge but gave up pretty quickly as I just wasn't into it.
So I can't convince you. I put him in the category of writers that people only like b.c they are so inaccessible and you can feel better than others for reading them. I put DFW and James Joyce in this category.
Posted on 8/29/18 at 4:47 pm to EmperorGout
I can't convince you otherwise but I did enjoy The Crying of Lot 49. Maybe because it is shorter and "easier" than some of his other stuff.
I generally agree about V. It is very intriguing but you find yourself waiting for some kind of tie together or pay off and nothing happens. I also began a 2nd time, but didnt follow through that time. Decided it wasn't worth it.
Was hoping for a The Sound and the Fury type experience where I didnt quite get it the first time, but got it and it blew me away the 2nd time. At least with that one, Faulkner ties it together more easily in the second half of the book. Then you go back and understand the first 2 parts better. No such luck with Pynchon.
I generally agree about V. It is very intriguing but you find yourself waiting for some kind of tie together or pay off and nothing happens. I also began a 2nd time, but didnt follow through that time. Decided it wasn't worth it.
Was hoping for a The Sound and the Fury type experience where I didnt quite get it the first time, but got it and it blew me away the 2nd time. At least with that one, Faulkner ties it together more easily in the second half of the book. Then you go back and understand the first 2 parts better. No such luck with Pynchon.
Posted on 8/30/18 at 4:14 am to EmperorGout
I was into all the pomo encyclopedic fiction back in college and graduate school. Not as into it anymore. That being said, I really enjoyed Against the Day.
My favorite current author of that type of fiction who I don't think gets nearly enough love is Neal Stephenson. His stuff constantly blows me away. I think he gets dismissed as a scifi writer... but I think his style is pretty masterful.
My favorite current author of that type of fiction who I don't think gets nearly enough love is Neal Stephenson. His stuff constantly blows me away. I think he gets dismissed as a scifi writer... but I think his style is pretty masterful.
Posted on 8/30/18 at 6:06 am to hogfly
quote:
I really enjoyed Against the Day.
I did that one on audio (40+ CD's) on a cross country drive and liked it a lot.
Gravity's Rainbow is my nemesis, I've started it 3 or 4 times and have never managed to get more than 150 pages in or so; and I like difficult, complicated books. Those are the only two Pynchon's I've tried and I doubt I'll read another without finishing Gravity's Rainbow at some point.
quote:
My favorite current author of that type of fiction who I don't think gets nearly enough love is Neal Stephenson.
I'm a fan of Stephenson and don't know that he's really in the same group as Pynchon. Maybe Cryptonomicon somewhat and I'm a massive fan of that book. Just listened to it again a couple of months ago and had forgotten how damn funny the book is.
David Foster Wallace is probably more comparable to Pynchon and I really like his stuff even though it takes some serious effort.
Posted on 8/30/18 at 8:16 am to Tigris
quote:
Gravity's Rainbow is my nemesis, I've started it 3 or 4 times and have never managed to get more than 150 pages in or so;
Same here. Bought it in the early 80’s, also tried to read it on 3 or 4 different occasions over all these years but have never made it more than half way through. Just gets tedious and aggravating. Still have my same copy and will finish it one day (maybe).
Posted on 8/30/18 at 11:15 am to EmperorGout
I really didn't care for Crying of Lot 49 when I read it. But in today's "Q" society I'm seeing its imprint everywhere.
Posted on 8/30/18 at 11:48 am to REG861
People who like him seem to bring up The Crying of Lot 49 quite a bit, and I’ve never tried that one. I’ll give it a shot, thanks.
Posted on 8/30/18 at 12:18 pm to EmperorGout
quote:
The Crying of Lot 49
Also challenging and a bit disorienting. Didn’t blow me away. Hope you enjoy it!
Posted on 9/6/18 at 2:06 pm to EmperorGout
It's called avant-garde.
It's like looking at funky art and wishing for a Norman Rockwell.
Gravity's Rainbow is a sweet book cover.
He's overhyped.
It's like looking at funky art and wishing for a Norman Rockwell.
Gravity's Rainbow is a sweet book cover.
He's overhyped.
Posted on 9/11/18 at 2:31 am to EmperorGout
Pynchon was my first introduction to postmodern lit in college, via his short story "Entropy". It was literally a life changing reading experience that pushed me towards DeLillo and DFW and all kinds of other great writers.
V. is the only Pynchon novel I've read and it took 3 tries over about 5 years. I think you have to just accept that some chapters will be funny or poignant or gripping and the rest will be a near incomprehensible mess designed to act as a sledgehammer to your brain - "Mondaugen's Story" about the German colonization of Namibia is a good example.
V. is the only Pynchon novel I've read and it took 3 tries over about 5 years. I think you have to just accept that some chapters will be funny or poignant or gripping and the rest will be a near incomprehensible mess designed to act as a sledgehammer to your brain - "Mondaugen's Story" about the German colonization of Namibia is a good example.
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