out from the shadows...

[Paul Mackin]

On Sun, 28 Jan 1996, Thomas N. Dennis wrote:

 
> The lines so daintily omitted are, for me, quite interesting...do they not
> have to do with a statement somewhat along this line (tho' inexact): "...
> comparing Pynchon to Joyce is like comparing a small school-kid to a 
> graduate student..." 
 
> As if children can teach us nothing, while the frazzled M.A. candidate 
> can?  



I was being overly squeamish in failing to finish the Gore Vidal quote on 
the grounds of decency. What I had in mind was:

". . . this generation of Americans is god-hungry and craves reassurance of
personal immortality. If Pynchon can provide it he will be as a god--rather
his intention, I would guess."

Pretty gory eh? But, who knows, it might generate discussion. How about
it, is Pynchon a god? And, worse still, might he _enjoy_ the latria
paid him?

Though Thomas Dennis's paraphrase of the Joyce comparison is close
enough, I _do_ have the yellowed source (until recently in the attic)
sitting here in front of me:

"To compare Pynchon with Joyce, say, is to compare a kindergartener to a 
graduate student (the permanent majority of culturally inadequate will 
promptly respond that the kindergartener _sees_ more clearly than the 
graduate student and that his incompetence with language is a sign of 
innocence not ignorance and hence grace)."

Gore at his bitchiest.

					P.