GR III RSVP

[sims]

>Can we read the novel in 8-12 months? Do we want to ask Hosts to abstain
>from the Google machine? From the  extra/inter textual reading? And from
>the research approach? Can we do without the notes, the critical
>literature ... the etymological and analytical method employed in the
>previous readings?
>
>Can we and should we read GR and only GR? Can we do a fast and focused
>reading of GR?
>
>We want to hear from everyone.

As my name is mentioned I figure I should speak up, here's my story
for what it's worth:

I just finished my first reading of V, which was also the first Pynchon novel
I've ever read. Incredible book...amazing, rich book. I've been living in Malta
for four years and his references to and knowledge of history, life, 
religion in Malta are
deep. It's been interesting for me to speculate on some bits of the book and
how TP might have arrived/derived at them. For example, the lashing of Mara
to the ship as a replacement for the figurehead...there are several statues
in churches here that people claim were figureheads for ships. There is
a special one, a Madonna,  over in the Three Cities which is used for the festa
and has the ex-ship's figurehead claim attached to her.

Also, if you don't mind me continuing on with V for a minute, an image
from Malta keeps coming back to me from my reading of V and some
minor googling about V.  Most of the Neolithic temples here in Malta
have  male-female components as part of their design. These temples predate,
by many years, the Greek, Phoenician, Roman temples & goddesses that were
mentioned in several V google articles I read. Temples here have been described
as the oldest standing architecture in the world by leading archaeologists
such as Sir Colin Renfrew. Inside the temples are usually one of two types
of male phallic stone symbols - either a rough menhir, large rough 
stone standing
upright or a stone which has been worked, cut and  smoothed. The smooth
version, which resembles an enormous dildo stuck in the ground, *could*
also appear to be an ICBM emerging from an underground silo. Directly
across from the male stone you will find the female component in what seems
to be the most prominent/important position of the temple. Many people
describe this as the alter of the temple. These stones are large triangles,
pubic triangles, and resemble a large V coming from the earth. They now seem
like the original V model to me...I cannot imagine TP being in Malta 
without visiting
these impressive UNESCO world heritage sites at least once.

The guy seems to absorb everything and then provide endless opportunities
to speculate on or make connections to what is in his books. Amazing.

Pardon the above diversion, I guess I'm now hooked on his books.

It seems to me as if most on this List are academics or writers...I'm
a software developer who's academic and literary background
must be light years behind the list. I've joined the list to learn
and broaden my old cranium which is too crammed with recursive
loops, repeat handlers, and code functions. My literary knowledge and
literary analytical/critical skill is extreme beginner level. I'm here to learn
more...seems like TP is a great place to start.

I have zero idea what such a group reading is or would be like.

I am also waiting for the bookstore on Republic Street, Valletta
to get the damn copy of GR to me so I can start my first reading!
Time seems to be a different thing here in Malta...TP must have
loved this place...maybe he still visits for all I know.

So...I don't have the damn book yet, not much of a literary background,
and would prefer to lurk for a while. Hope you don't mind a question
now and again.

atb

sims