ATD: ad: Pynchon excerpt from new novel

[robinlandseadel at comcast.net]

I wonder what one would call a defender of Philip K. Dick (a Dickian?). No doubt Tom Leherer would have an altogether different parodisical song for Anna Livia Plurabelle. Anyway, Joyce was no Borges (and Vice/Versa) and Pynchon's no William S. Burroughs either. Obviously, I'm comparing apples to scampi. The innate superiority of Joyce does not strike me (lowly, lowly little me, without even an piece of paper from college with which to wipe my little butt) as a total absolute on account of obvious difficulties with intelligilibity---right now I'm reading the Lydia Davis translation of "Swann's Way', and I am immediately struck by the superiority and poetry of the writing in that book. I'm not saying that in comparison to Joyce, but in comparison to anything. Your mileage, obviously, may vary. Please understand, in the twenty or so years since first attempting Joyce, I've derived a great deal of joy in Joyce's books, none moreso than "Wake", which is probably the finest book for Bib
liomancy I've yet encountered (note M&D styled capitalization [wouldn't "M&D" be a fine appellation for a 40 oz. beverage?]). However "the superior quality and scope of his writing is a benchmark against which all subsequent authors must face, willingly or not" for me is not a given. And I'd love to hear Tom Leherer's song for Molly Bloom. In fact, what I really want is the Vomitones song for Molly Bloom. They'd probably enlist Prairie for a few well placed high pitched screams. Punks---ya gotta love 'em. I've no doubt that TRP will pass along a few thoughts of his own as regards the Irish master in "ATD".


Here's our Bibliomantic quote of the day:

"---Get out, you dirt! A strangely striking part of speech for the hottest worked word of ur sprouge. You're not! Unhindered and odd times? Mere thumbshow? Lately?"

[trust me, it was a truley random selection. I can't help what the ghost of JJ willspwew out or besure who's he's addressing. . .]


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Ghetta Life" <ghetta_outta at hotmail.com>
 
One can have difficulty reading Joyce, but the superior quality and scope of his writing is a benchmark against which all subsequent authors must face, willingly or not.  I believe GR was Pynchon's answer to Ulysses's scope and depth.  Whether one enjoys Ulysses as much doesn't make it a lesser work. Just ask a Joycean.  He'll go on forever, and with lots of real justification.
 
As for FW, it can't really be called a novel.  It was an experimantal work 
closer to poetry than fiction.  And as far as Leherer's comment, I doubt he would apply it to FW.
 
The "the right book for the right person" is a good attitude for librarians who want to encourage reading in general (except maybe for those that acquire the books for the library).  But for students of literature it would be silly advice.
 
Ghetta