Thomas Pynchon

Discussion in 'Books' started by CG, Apr 3, 2003.

  1. CG

    CG Member

    Jul 25, 2001
    I own Mason & Dixon. Can somebody who has read some Pynchon tell me what his writing is like?
     
  2. nancyb

    nancyb Member

    Jun 30, 2000
    Falls Church, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I loved the book V. It's been ages since I read it, but I remember it as quirky, which I tend to like.
     
  3. champmanager

    champmanager Member

    Dec 13, 2001
    Alexandria, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    Kazakhstan
    Pynchon's writing is super-intellectual, very difficult to follow, and some of his jokes apparently require a phd in physics if you're to fully appreciate them. His first book, the Crying of Lot49, is by far the most accessible...Gravity's Rainbow is incredibly difficult.
     
  4. DoctorJones24

    DoctorJones24 Member

    Aug 26, 1999
    OH
    In order of accessibility, I'd rank them:

    Vineland
    Crying of Lot 49
    V
    Gravity's Rainbow

    (I own Mason and Dixon, but haven't gotten to it yet.)

    I loved them all, even Vineland, which was widely panned. It is definitely "pynchon-lite" though.
     
  5. irvine

    irvine Member

    Nov 24, 1998
    S. Portland, ME
    Don't read Mason&Dixon first. Read Lot 49. If you like what you see, you'll like the others as well.

    If you don't like what you see, you've got a screw loose, but that's another story ... ;)
     
  6. chalkheels

    chalkheels New Member

    Jun 13, 2002
    Virginia
    I read Mason and Dixon, but found Pynchon to be incredibly pretentious—in style, tone, and content. I don’t think I’ll be wasting my time again on his egocentric ramblings any time in the near future.
     

Share This Page