AleXander’s Comments (group member since Aug 06, 2013)

AleXander’s comments from the Thomas Pynchon group.

Funny thing about "a guy Pynchon loved" . . .
I have not had great success with liking books recommended by authors I love.
Stone Junction by Jim Dodge and Zeroville by Steve Erickson, both recommended by Pynchon I gave up by page 50 (my break-off point) because they were so sophomoric - and very ditto for Tom Robbins work.
To be fair, to counter those three, I did love The Glass Ocean by Lori Baker and Warlock by Oakley Hall, both of which Mr Pynchon also recommended.
(I also abandoned Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson, which David Foster Wallace recommended.)

Benny wrote: "Alexander: "it was a mind-worm, which worked its way through my brain over the years"

That's the perfect way to describe it."

Actually it was Michael so said that. :-) and yes, it's good.

Michael wrote: "it's been years since I read M & D and I'm tempted to re-read it. The time commitment is formidable. I started rereading Against the Day last year, but couldn't finish it before life intervened. I ..."

63 also and with mortality looming ahead I am eating up books as fast as I can. Luckily I am on public transportation here in NYC for an hour or more a day so that provides reading time. After the last year of everything by David Foster Wallace I am heading outward with "The Seducer" Jan Kjærstad, which after 70 pages has me completely captured (which means two others since it's one of a trilogy). So much out there to read . . . The Lost Scrapbook, The Recognitions . . . and Against The Day and Mason & Dixon at least one more time around in the next year or so.

Michael wrote: "I loved Mason & Dixon. It's become one of my favorite Pynchon novels. Initially I thought the arcane language would be a barrier, a bridge too far. However, to my surprise it didn't take long befor..."

My experience exactly. A few dozen pages in and it had me and held me. Mason & Dixon and Against The Day are my favorites - with Gravity's Rainbow sharing the shelf.

Great books - Mason/Dixon (after a dozen pages it just became the language I was reading in; as any other book), Gravity's Rainbow (4x on that one over the years) and oh yes: Against The Day!
Following decades of Pynchon being at the top of my list, in the last 2 years David Foster Wallace has joined him, A good place to start is with a book of essays and book of short stories to enter the mind of this master. Infinite Jest is a brilliant work with so many wondrous interconnected layers - a true adventure of the mind. Just finished his unfinished symphony The Pale King, which has also joined the few dozen books with my 5 star ratings.

I know the part of the Brooklyn Bridge where Thomas Pynchon stood when he wrote this particular piece - and - I am in the amazingly fortunate position to be able to offer one of his lucky fans here (only from among those who can sense that that piece is really TP's writing) the opportunity to buy that section of the bridge at a special discount price. Bitcoin through Tor only.

Well I thought this was the best book of fiction released in 2013 - and it wasn't in the choice of 15 presented - so I wrote it in (there is a space for that) in the the GoodReads Choice Awards. If you think likewise, let's lift this wonderful book upward!!

Well I thought this was the best book of fiction released in 2013 - and it wasn't in the choice of 15 presented - so I wrote it in (there is a space for that) in the the GoodReads Choice Awards. If you think likewise, let's lift this wonderful book upward!!

Got my copy and am going very slowly - delighting in every amazing sentence that man is capable of spinning.

Lived in Vermont for 2 decades - certainly understand the having to drive to culture thing.
It was why I moved back to NYC (my home town)3 years ago when the kids had grown!
Costs high, yeah - but compared to car: $112 total for 24/7 month of subway/buses (no insurance/ no repairs/ etc)- and it provides me with an hour each morning and afternoon of reading time - which was always hard to find in VT.
And Thomas Pynchon lives here. :-)

Delightful it will be to be at the bookstore when it opens tomorrow to get my copy.
(If only the world were such that hundreds of adults were waiting at the doors of bookstores for something a bit more engaging than Harry Potter books.)

I am one of those who will die with a paper book in my hand - screen reading on computer and phone are plenty. Love real books. Just the other day somebody spoke to me because of the copy of "Confederacy of Dunces" in my hand. Have had Pynchon connections the same way. Reasons 12 & 35 of why I stick to paper and why I will be at the bookstore when it opens at 9 am - with a call in advance to reserve me a copy. :-)

An excellent review. I skimmed - because in 6 days I will be amidst it all.
http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/bo...