Pynchon and Seuss

[Dana]

Regarding Peter's message regarding _Oh the Places you'll Go_:
I just bought that book for my sister, who is heading off on an
Adventure.  She's moving across the country to live on the
west coast with a Navy Officer (spoken of as a "sailor" by my
apprehensive parents). So, I got her the book because it helps
with the scariness of leaving everything and jumping in ("you will
succeed, ninety-eight and 3/4 per cent  guaranteed ") rather blindly.
Last night, I told her maybe she should read V. to supplement
her knowledge of Navy Officers.  She said "oh, I know: every port, every
port...") Ah,and the jokes about seamen are endless.
Anyway, back to Pynchon and Dr. Seuss.  After I gave my conference paper

on V. last year (on the blood stains mysteriously appearing here and there)
some professor (a theology prof, no less) literally jumped up and
said that that was exactly how he read "The Cat in the Hat Came Back"
(in which the Cat causes red   stains to proliferate all over the sheets
and the snow and it's impossible to clean up, and, oh, what will mother
think? and isn't it, really, like someone's first experience with blood?)
So, there you have it.  A fruitful pairing: Seuss and Pynchon.
There's a dissertation topic for anyone interested.
Thank me later, Dana