eGad: new mcelroy essay

[Otto]

You're right, "sequentially and sporadically" is indeed more accurate.

I don't know how it is for a native speaker, but for me it is hard to
follow. Some English words have a variety of meanings and so for reading
McElroy I really need a dictionary to get an idea of what is being said,
which I didn't needed for, let's say, Jonathan Franzen.

"Plus" is fascinating but takes a lot of effort to follow IMP in his
development to IMP Plus.

If I ever manage those three I will probably try his other novels too.

Otto

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ghetta Life" <ghetta_outta at hotmail.com>
To: <ottosell at yahoo.de>; <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Thursday, April 21, 2005 4:43 PM
Subject: Re: eGad: new mcelroy essay


>
> >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
>