re VLVL Pynchon's eye for detail

[Paul Mackin]

On Sat, 2004-09-04 at 07:55, Dave Monroe wrote:

> gotta look up Patrick White ...

I did back in 1980 on the basis of a pretty favorable writeup in the
NYRB. The novel was The Twyborn Affair. It's the only White I've ever
read. Reread it a few years back. The novel involves shifting personal
and sexual identities and the review played this aspect up to the extent
that I think I was anticipating a V-like personage. Anyway I was not
disappointed even though V. was all girl (wasn't she) and Eddie Twyborn
plays both parts.  Eddie's last name is suggestive of his path through
life. (it's not one of W's most acclaimed novels I don't think but very
good nevertheless)