Slate, Mason Dixon and general randomness..

[Joel Weierman]

With these streams of message pouring into
my Pynchon folder I have to at least get my
contribution in.

I was reading the Slate review
(http://www.slate.com/BookReview/97-05-06/)
and had to wholeheartedly agree with him. 
I have tried many times to read Pynchon
(I am giving GR another go right now)
but the most succesful and rewarding
was when I read the Crying of Lot 49
in a politics class in college. Through
lots of discussion and general hints
about some of the more subtle themes
I was able to see the novel not as just some
bizarre play on words, but as a very
political novel. Since I began reading
on my own, I've had a rougher go of it.

Its such a contrast reading something so 
"simple"(?) like "The Liar's Club" seems
so easy and so rewarding, its almost
like I am cheating or something.

That's where I really agree with Mr. Kirn...
I think I may give up half-way through
Mason & Dixon and leave Pynchon 
on the shelf.....

What do other folks think out there?

-Joel
joel at typhoon.co.jp