AtD excerpt - "got-damned pinkinroller"

[Ya Sam]

There is also something of a wacky alliteration:

freSHly credenSHelled from the American School of Osteopathy


>From: Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>
>To: pynchon-l at waste.org
>Subject: Re: AtD excerpt - "got-damned pinkinroller"
>Date: Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:29:27 -0400
>
>
>On Aug 5, 2006, at 7:42 PM, jbor at bigpond.com wrote:
>
>>I guess it's also worthwhile pointing out that whatever action  there is 
>>in the second part of the scene is implied by the  dialogue. It isn't 
>>narrated. This is a characteristic feature of  Pynchon's narrative style 
>>also.
>>
>>The way the dialogue is written makes it seem like a rapid-fire  exchange, 
>>when in fact it isn't. Young Willis, at the very least,  has put his 
>>pistol away (I think he has put it back in his bag and  taken out a little 
>>osteopathic or diagnostic tool, but I guess he  could have just put it in 
>>his pocket) and walked back to where  Jimmy is crouched in pain, before 
>>his "lilywhites" work their  massage magic on Jimmy's back.
>>
>>The idea that the "pinkinroller" refers to Willis's pistol is  plausible, 
>>and my first reading of it was that Jimmy was referring  to Willis as a 
>>"pinkinroller" too.
>>
>>Once his back goes, Jimmy's attention diverts to Alfonsito, who is  
>>carrying on and probably comes over to offer his compadre  assistance at 
>>that point. It's not until he says "I can fix that"  that Jimmy takes any 
>>further notice of what Willis is doing. By  that time Willis has done 
>>whatever he has done with his pistol, and  is walking towards Jimmy with 
>>(perhaps) a "pinkinroller" in his  hand, to offer his osteopathic 
>>expertise.
>
>Incidentally isn't the way  Willis offers his services more madison  avenue 
>and hollywood  than wild west?
>
>"Trust me" meaning "go along with me even if  you can't yet see where  I'm 
>going."
>
>Pynchon up to old tricks . . . oh, damn . . . .
>
>>
>>best
>>
>>On 06/08/2006, at 9:23 AM, Paul Mackin wrote:
>>
>>>My first inclination is to hear "pinkinroller" as a disparaging  remark 
>>>about the relative non-lethalness of Willis's antiquated  colt.  Roller 
>>>stands for revolver, It's what you see when looking  into the barrel of  
>>>one. Willis's is a pinkinroller because it is  of small calibre, probably 
>>>a .22, and capable only of pinking  (barely scratching) the person it 
>>>hits. Jimmy Drop no doubt  carries a .45.
>>
>>>> >     "Damned idiot, o' course it's my back. Oh mother of all
>>>> > misfortune--and worst than last time too."
>>>> >     "I can fix that," offered Willis.
>>>> >     "Beg your pardon, what in hell business of any got-damn
>>>> > pinkinroller'd this be, again?"
>>>> >     "I know how to loosen that up for you. Trust me, I'm an
>>>> > osteopath."
>>>> >     "It's O.K., we're open-minded, couple boys in the outfit are
>>>> > evangelicals, just watch where you're putting them lilywhites  now--
>>>> > yaaagghh--I mean, huh?"
>>>> >     "Feel better?"
>>>> >     "Holy Toledo," straightening up, carefully but pain-free.
>>>> >     "Why, it's a miracle."
>>
>>
>

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar - get it now! 
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/