Vineland underrated

[Carvill John]

On Fri, 26 Sep 2003 03:06:14 joeallonby wrote:

>The first review that I read was in The NYTBR. It was written by Salman
>Rushdie. We all get the joke. Rushdie was practically gushing. I bought the
>book the next day. I loved it.

Yes, I only read that review retrospectively, after I'd read the book. In 
the pre-internet days, a review in the NYTBR reached a far narrower 
audience! It is a great review and, coincidentally, supports the view that 
the book expresses left-wing political views.

Note to the easily inflamed: I am not, repeat not, suggesting that Mr 
Rushdie's aim in writing the review was to give credence to my own view of 
the book.

>I don't understand how anyone could find V. more accessible than GR. I
>usually recommend COL49 as an introduction.

No, V is far less accesible that GR. My criteria in recommending a 
introductory Pynchon book only apply to those who need to have 
recommendations made. If you're already determined to get into Pynchon then 
you won't need any pointers, just read. But especially for readers of my 
generation (I'm 35), I think it helps to recommend a book that is set in a 
time and is about a political culture that we lived through.

Cheers

John

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