VLVL: Re: To annotate or not to annotate

[Doug Millison]

At 11:48 AM -0500 12/4/98, Peter Giordano wrote:
>A reasonable annotation policy can be found in the LIBRARY OF
>AMERICA volumes

Peter raises a good point relative to the LOA books. Personally, I find
their notes too skimpy and always wish for more (a view shared by some
reviewers of those books as they've appeared these many years, but not by
all), but I understand the arguments in favor of the policy.

We did have some discussion public and off-list last summer about how to
handle VLVL notes and questions, with no clear resolution. Some people
found the sometimes massive amounts of notes to be stifling during MDMD,
while others liked it. I'm taking part in VLVL with the understanding that
each session host will provide whatever mix of discussion materials he or
she wants to provide.

I had a lot of fun reading VLVL(5) very closely and making lots of
annotations and asking lots of questions. I produced my chapter summaries,
commentaries, notes & questions for my own pleasure and and offered them to
stimulate discussion. Lots of notes and questions means lots to talk about.

Sure we could each individually take the time and effort to trace out
various references in VL for ourselves, but that would tend to defeat the
purpose of a hosted discussion such as we've undertaken wouldn't it?  Given
the kinds of questions that have frequently come up by non-American (and
sometimes younger American) readers regarding references in VL, I would err
on the side of providing more rather than less annotation. Given the way
Mr. Pynchon often puts a surprising twist or adds unexpected depth to
references we think we already know would also seem to argue in  favor of
explicating all but the most commonplace.

As far as somebody who isn't taking part in VLVL but who has chosen to
speak negatively of the VLVL discussion guide materials is concerned....
well I've nothing nice to say so I won't say anything. Nothing is stopping
anybody from starting a discussion thread on any Pynchon-related topic at
any time and seeing if somebody else wants to pick it up and discuss it.
(Just as, unfortunately, nothing is stopping anybody from posting a
gratuitous insult anytime he or she wants to  dump a stinking load in our
cozy little living room here.)

I thank Peter Petto for taking the time and making the effort to provide
the guides for VLVL(6). To those of you who are somehow not satisfied with
the VLVL materials, I offer a simple suggestion:  supplement them with
notes and questions and commentaries that are more to your liking.

-Doug