Pynchon's weaknesses

[Doug Millison]

I confess, I wouldn't intrude into another group's discussion of its 
preferred author and start slinging mud.   I'm also the kind of 
person who puts the dog outside rather than let it crap on the living 
room rug when we're sitting around talking. Chalk it up to old 
fashioned good manners, I guess.

It's no wonder you don't get far with your slams against Pynchon or 
against those who highly esteem his writing -- merely calling praise 
of Pynchon "overblown" or "simple-minded" hardly serves to engage an 
ongoing discussion. I imagine it serves other psychological needs, 
however, and I suppose it's a good thing you have this outlet for 
your antisocial urges. It spares you kicking the cat or significant 
other, and you drop your turds in our living room instead of your own.

Pre-empting the usual blowhards:  rest assured, you can post whatever 
you want to Pynchon-L, with no interference from me. I can post to 
the list, too, despite your pinhead protests.

Thanks,
Doug


At 8:08 AM -0400 6/29/00, MalignD at aol.com wrote:
><.
>
>One example I recall was a discussion following Dudious Max's (I recall)
>claim that Pynchon was the the greatest American writer ever, in a class with
>Homer, Shakespeare, and Dante.  I mentioned that I found such a statement
>overblown generally and, more specifically, in omission of one Big Bill
>Faulkner, who casts a rather long shadow over 20th century American writing. 
>There was some back and forth over the relative merits of both.  I recall the
>Millison, however, saying that he, for one, would never go on the Faulkner
>list and make such claims about Pynchon, the point being that comparing
>Faulkner favorably to TP on the P-list was out of line, as Millison always
>feels it is his, as nanny in residence, to decide what is and what is not out
>of line.
>
><< I imagine that we might be able to sustain more discussion of aspects of
>Pynchon's writings that some would call weaknesses, assuming that such
>observations were offered in a spirit of critical discussion and not
>simple-minded insults. >>
>
>I try to refrain from insults, simple-minded or otherwise, but always allow
>myself some slack in Millison's case, where simple-minded is usually most
>appropriate.

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