UMd Pynchon/DeLillo Class

[grip at netcom.com]

On Tue, 12 Sep 1995, Gillies, Lindsay wrote:

> I've tried to read GR aloud---I read Tom Jones aloud over a period of time, 
> and wanted to continue reading aloud, and tried GR.  But I discovered that 
> (for me) it was impossible to do this---it is as if what TRP has written is 
> already "read aloud".  

Two years ago I was teaching in the United Emirates University. There was 
a literary discussion group in the English department. (It was actually 
an ESL department, no lit was taught.) I taught math/computers. When it 
became my turn to host, I selected GR as the discussion topic. I selected 
a dozen or so passages, had them copied, and various members of the group 
read them. I thought the readings went reasonably well. I read the first 
section stopping just as Pirate shoved the cot over to catch what's his 
name. 

We also read that incredible passage starting with the gift of the magi 
scene between Roger and Jessica in front of the church, the toilet 
scene, and some other small scenes to get the flavor of his style 
of writing. GR wasn't available there. I may have had the only copy 
in the whole country. 

I like to pick up GR, open it and read it aloud. If I come to one of his 
lyrics, I frequently can manage to warble a tune to the words. 
Remembering, as a child, the tunes that came out of WWII, I do a fair job 
of ad-libbing melodies.

Recording the novel would be a daunting task. But it's one I would be 
interested in attempting. Maybe I'll try it.

grip