Sufferin' Succotash

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

I wonder what "National Review" thinks of the "Simpsons" or ""American Dad" or "Family Guy"? I wonder what the right wing thinks of Po-Mo cartoon humor in general (Of which "Vineland" is an exemplar). Vineland has two critical drawbacks that make it hard to speak of in the same breath as the vast, sometimes turgid, expanses of GR and "V". It's readily comprehended as plot (rather brilliant in that regard) and spends so much time making jokes as to be easily set aside as a mere bagatelle. Certainly it does nothing to invigorate or excite those good folks at NR on account of it always painting NR/right-wing types as villains.
On the other hand, character development is much improved over Pynchon's previous books. The essential humanity and decency of the "Heros" of "Vineland" make for no doubt as to which side Pynchon is on in the "Cultural Wars" depicted in "Vineland". That , and the fact that it's set in 1984, should erase any doubts as to what our author is really up to.
 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Dave Monroe <monropolitan at yahoo.com>
> I DON'T MIND admitting that I was one of those
> long-suffering readers who eagerly awaited Thomas
> Pynchon's new novel . . . 
> http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n8_v42/ai_8370042
> 
> I cleaned up a few typos there, but ...
> 
> But I can't imagine why the NR would dislike VL ...
> 
> National Review ("NR") is a conservative political
> magazine, founded by author William F. Buckley Jr. in
> 1955. The magazine is based in New York City and
> published biweekly. . .