Crying a lot on my 49th birthday..

[Sojourner]

Cary_Libby at sad23.k12.me.us (Cary Libby) wrote:

>The only Pynchon novel I've have read is "The Crying of Lot 49", the only
reason
>I picked it up in the first place was the catchy title.  I found it to be quite
>good, but feel daunted in trying "Gravity's Rainbow".  As Pynchonites, pray,
>tell me why I should read both GR and M&D.


I haven't finished M&D yet, so I cannot tell you why you should read it,
other than that we (the list), having enjoyed previously other works by
Mssr. TRP, have already cultivated a taste and appreciation for his literary
productions.

Gravity's Rainbow is worth reading however, and I am quite confident the
majority of those who have read it will agree (at least here on this list).
Gravity's Rainbow is roughly set in WWII, and has a lush and colorful
description of the mindset and atmosphere of that time.  It is also however,
a masterpiece of literature, regardless of its plot and/or setting.  

Gravity's Rainbow has been described as a "difficult" or "dense" read, but
to me, it is almost the complete opposite.  GR was written in a manner which
reminds me of my own dreams, or of Shakespeare, or of the coding of a
computer, or of the philosophical rationalizations of Kant.  The core, or
nut, of the piece is yes, set in WWII, but it branches and flowers, and
twists and turns and dances and alights upon every soft and fragile tendril
of the author's mind, and of the minds of the characters, until you pull
back far enough to see a grand picture, an overall sense of wonder and awe,
a sense that thet net of TRP's mind captured an image completely,
resplendant with subtle fragments and harsh realities.  

Many people read GR all the way through, then re-read it all over again.  If
we could do this with our dreams, would we not jump at the chance?  In such
a manner, I would put forth that every new reading of GR brings to your mind
fresh ideas and new thoughts, much like the way many people use the Bible.
Countless stories and countless images (although recently perhaps they HAVE
been counted -- but to no avail eh?) built upon eachother, haphazard or
ordered, structured or entropic, they serve to be the very essence of Mr.
Pynchon's epic work.

Delve into this book.  Give it a hundred pages.  Do not force your mind
around every image, character, or word, but instead relax and try to absorb
it as through osmosis.  My full and honest belief is that you will find it a
very rewarding experience.