Holt publishing -Reply

[jporter]

Marty shares:

>I have nothing but good words for all of Pynchon's books,
>but I have a particular fondness for that one [VL] and *GR*.  I
>have to admit that I never really understood _V_, and I read
>it a couple of times (after having tried to read it three other
>times). To me, it is more flawed than _Vineland_, but I am
>in no position to tell you why, since I don't really understand it.
>Had I reviewed _V_ for the National Review, I would have
>pronounced it readable but less fun than a John Simon
>review.
>
>I think _Vineland_ and _M&D_ feature Pynchon's tenderest
>writing to date; this trait might not be prized by others, but
>it is important to me.

I agree, and the more I read M&D, the more I want to go back and read
Vineland again. Taken as a whole, the works are getting even better. When
VL finally came out, I was like a ravenous wolf. It was as much a
reassurance for me as a literary experience. In some of my speculations
during those 17 years, with only the few NYTBR pieces and the odd blurb for
comfort, I had Pynchon wasting away in some lonely room- another passed
over victim of AIDS, or worse.

jody