"Difficult"?

[Jeremy Osner]

Greg Montalbano wrote:
> 
> [people say the Py-man is tough]
>
> Am I the only one who takes exception to this?  I mean, I've always read FOR
> PLEASURE, first and foremost;  and it seems to me that even the most
> non-analytical readers (among whom I number myself) can, if they're willing
> to relinquish control & just let themselves be swept along by an author
> they've learned to trust, can enjoy the alternating playfulness, intensity,
> insight and STORIES (strange, hilarious and wonderful stories) this writer
> has to offer. 

{FLAME ALERT--FLAME ALERT--I'm about to admit to having a hard time with
Gravity's Rainbow}

I agree as regards every book by Py except GR, of which I find the
individual bits fun and pleasurable but the totality extremely
difficult. And I should add, in V., I thought the parts set in modern
America (= most of the book) fun and pleasurable and the parts set in
pre-WWI Europe and Africa burdensome and wearying. This kinda ties (I
think) in with Py's comments in the intro to Slow Learner about his
growth as a writer.

Jeremy