Pynchon fax

[jbor]

>>> He began avoiding public appearances at the beginning of his career
>> 
>> Precisely. And that is why reviewers and journalists continually refer to
>> him as a "reclusive author". Pynchon has chosen to remain aloof, and that
>> has become his trademark.

otto
> Trademark is a nice word. For me his trademark are a number of excellent
> novels. Your opinion is contrary to his own words about the term
> "reclusive" as he said in the CNN-interview. I have always understood that
> statement that he doesn't regard himself as especially reclusive. I think
> his attitude is merely consequent and I appreciate it.

Because he "doesn't like to talk to reporters" he is labelled by them as
"reclusive", is pretty much what he was saying. He regards himself as
someone "who doesn't like to talk to reporters", and he doesn't, for the
most part. I can understand that reporters think that makes him "reclusive",
but I also agree that it doesn't actually make him "reclusive" in all facets
of his life, and that the label is an inaccurate one. Of course, it doesn't
change the fact that he doesn't give personal interviews, or attend awards
ceremonies, or give lectures, or do book signings, or give readings, or like
photos of himself being published. He writes novels and tinkers around the
edges as a journalist, essayist, reviewer and interviewer himself, and most
recently he allowed himself to be lampooned on 'The Simpsons'. It's worth
considering why he has made these choices, and what impact they have had.

It's of secondary importance to the novels themselves, I agree. I don't know
why you're insinuating that I think otherwise.

best