ATD: ad: Pynchon excerpt from new novel

[Paul Mackin]

On Aug 8, 2006, at 9:56 AM, robinlandseadel at comcast.net wrote:

> I work in a bookstore. Nobody---and I mean nobody---ever came up to  
> me and asked "Where can I find a copy of 'Mason & Dixon'?". When I  
> showed up at the job six years ago, the store had stacks of  
> remaindered copies of "M&D" and DeLillo's "Underworld" (I Bought  
> three of the hardbound copies of "M&D" and one of  
> "Underworld" [definitely a choice book for Pynchoniods]). Pynchon,  
> despite the Simpsons, never will be a Dan Brown or even a Chuck  
> Palahnuik---it's rather dubious that "ATD" will move that many  
> copies, particularly considering its potential qualities as a  
> doorstop. Telemarketing won't help, infomercials won't help.


This seems utterly and uncontrovertibly correct.

The  only even remote possibility P's books have for increased  
popularity would be if word  got around that the  sex scenes are  
(starting with  GR) quite good.

in other words  I  respectfully but totally reject the idea the the  
sample  passage was  put forth in order  to attract new Pynchon readers.


>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Tim Strzechowski" <dedalus204 at comcast.net>
>> The out-of-context passage in question may not be the most  
>> beautiful thing
>> he's written, nor may it necessarily be his best humor, satire,  
>> social
>> commentary, etc.  But to the everyday reader (as opposed to the  
>> die-hards
>> like us) it offers a representative "taste" of the Pynchon style,  
>> which is
>> merely part of the marketing strategy.
>>
>> That "taste" comes out in the wackiness of the ta-dum "osteopath/ 
>> evangelist"
>> gag, the historicism of the backdrop, even the names and slapstick  
>> nature of
>> the "back" action.  For a reader who has heard of this Thomas  
>> Pynchon but
>> never read his books, this passage functions as a sample from the  
>> deli while
>> you're waiting in line for pastrami.
>>
>> I don't believe there are malicious motives to choosing this  
>> particular
>> passage.  Someone earlier referred to it as appealing to a "least  
>> common
>> denominator" of reader.  The passage is a snippet of what we all know
>> Pynchon can sustain for much longer and do way better, but it's a  
>> quick
>> glimpse at his style for perhaps enticing those who are newbies to P.
>> .
>>
>>
>>> So the question remains:  Why would this one be the  
>>> representative nibble
>>> to hit the streets?  It's almost as if someone is trying to make  
>>> AD bomb.
>>>
>>
>>
>
>