Pynchon fax

[Otto]

----- Original Message -----
From: "jbor" <jbor at bigpond.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Monday, May 03, 2004 1:12 AM
Subject: Re: Pynchon fax


> >>> 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

I don't insinuate that his "myth" is of more importance to you than his
novels. I know that you've gave all of them a very close reading.

But the question of the impact isn't complete. Impact on what? On the
reading of his novels?

Otto