Leclair and Gaddis and McElroy

[WKLJAZZ at aol.com]

All this discussion of William Gaddis prompts me to ask the group a question
I've had on my mind for a couple-three years.  In a bookstore hunting for
Pychoniana, I was prompted to buy a book of lit-crit by Tom Leclair (the name
of which suddenly -- embarrassingly -- escapes me) about a group of BIG post
WWII novels that he considers masterpieces because of the was they master and
overwhelm the reader.  The book uses "systems" theory in much of its analysis
and contains chapters on GR, SOMETHING HAPPENED (Heller), JR (Gaddis), WOMEN
AND MEN (Joseph McElroy), THE PUBLIC BURNING (R Coover), LETTERS (Barth) and
ALWAYS COMING HOME (U LeGuin).  "Pynchon Notes" has been promising a review
of the LeClair book for a couple issues now, but no go.

Anyway, I'd love to hear reactions to the LeClair book.

Second, when I read that book, I was familiar with Coover and LeGuin and
Heller and Barth but not with Gaddis and McElroy.  What do people think of
McElroy?  I bought THE LETTER LEFT TO ME and WOMEN AND MEN, but (I'm
embarassed to say) I just can't pick them up.  Just putting them in my hands
makes me weary.  I mean, Pynchon is the heaviest mother out there, but when
you know that Porky Pig and Byron the Bulb are coming down the pike
eventually it makes it easier to face 700-some pages.  What can you guys
offer on McElroy to lure me in -- or perhaps I should keep them on the shelf
where they best remain only interior decorating . . . ?

Will L.