What Pynchon wrote?

[Paul Nightingale]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
> Behalf Of Terrance
> Sent: 23 May 2003 22:24
> Cc: pynchon-l at waste.org
> Subject: Re: What Pynchon wrote?
> 
> 
> 
> Paul Nightingale wrote:
> >
> > Meanwhile, at the risk of inspiring raucous laughter ... I've wasted
> > some time today (you were all having such fun) thinking about how
the
> > Foreword hangs together as a piece. In my view (no apology for being
> > predictable) it functions as a Pynchon-text always does function, by
> > asking us how we know what we think we know, by interrogating the
way in
> > which writing tells us, or would like to tell us, what there is to
know
> > (about). What follows is necessarily sketchy, and I'm not holding my
> > breath.
> 
> I'm a distracted thinker. I grew up in a small apartment in the south
> bronx where people got murdered around the block and buildings burned
> down weekly, there were 13 of us in one space. i could read
shakespeare,
> strum my guitar, watch tv and my little brothers, do my homework and
> talk on the phone while i dreamed about a better life and a room of my
> own.  I had a child when I was still a boy, went to college at one of
> the toughest universities in the US when I was just 17 and raised my
> child and myself before I could drive a car. I can do three jobs at
once
> and make jokes and take them too.
> 
> 
> sorry but this is the kind of remark your post invites.

I'm not quite sure why. I take the time to post here because I'm
interested in discussing Pynchon's work. The reason we're discussing the
Foreword to an 'old' novel is that he wrote it. This is about Pynchon
and his writing, and we're all coming at it from different directions.
Which is fine. Until it stops being about P. All I'm trying to do here
is get it on track.

I get the impression that you're accusing me of not living in the real
world, and because of that I don't have a sense of humour maybe. On the
latter: judging from what passes for humour here at times, I'm glad to
be included out. As for the real-world jibe, if that is what you are
saying, I can't be bothered to respond. I can respond to your subsequent
posts.