eGad: new mcelroy essay

[Ghetta Life]

>From: "Otto" <ottosell at yahoo.de>
>
>So far I'm struggling with "Lookout Cartridge" (1), "Plus" (2) and "A 
>Smuggler's Bible" (3) simultaneously.

Rather than "simultaneously" I think "sequentially and sporadically" might 
be more accurate.  Are they really that hard to follow?  About the only 
thing that stops me from pushing on through a book is boredom.  If I don't 
think I'm understanding something I just usually keep on going despite.

>I had started with (1), but stopped quite early because I had lost track 
>between p. 19 and 27.
>
>Then I tried to read (2) which seems to be the most "accessible" of the 
>novels. I stopped after 35 pages.
>
>Before starting with (3) I read some secondary material, "The Review of 
>Contemporary Fiction," Volume X 1990, Spring Issue, in which you find 
>essays by well known (if you're familiar with Pynchon-secondary material) 
>people like Joseph Tabbi, John Johnston, Brian Stonehill, Frederick R. 
>Karl, Brian McHale and Steven Moore -- which encouraged me to go on.
>
>http://www.centerforbookculture.org/review/90_1.html
>
>Then I started reading (3) and went up to page 41. I haven't given up yet.

(1) is supposed to be his "best."  I've read some exerts of (2), and it 
seems a bit difficult because of the somewhat scrambled mind it seeks to 
give voice to.  But the scenario of (2)'s creature gradually discovering his 
own nature attracts me, and it reminds me a bit of Beckett's Trilogy.  I'll 
probably end up reading all three.

Ghetta

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