Group Read Headcount

[The Great Quail]

Doug writes,

> fq's response here also underscores the decline in
> civility on Pynchon-L since 9-11.

Wasn't it you that an hour ago called me, and I quote, "full of shit?" Doug,
calm down, buddy. You are being mightily truculent and quite a bit defensive
about things.

I don't want to do a reading of Vineland because I've read it three times
and I partook in the last group discussion. (Albeit only a bit.) "Pale Fire"
seems like a fun thing to read, especially with this group. No one is
drawing up sides on a playground, it's just a discussion with vote-taking,
like a democratic community. There is no "Gang of Five." The List is not
divided in two. All this is in your mind, just like the pink monkey birds in
mine. Ignore their squawking and play nice.

If we opt for Vineland, I won't complain. I'll just read it a fourth time.
Unlike many people, I *love* Vineland. Hector is one of my all-time favorite
Pynchon characters.

--Big Bird