Bloom on Pynchon

[Otto]

In his "How to Read and Why" (Scribner, New York 2000; got it only in
German) the chapter on Nathanel West is the chapter before the chapter
on "Lot 49".

Haven't read the West novel myself so I can't say anything about it
but Bloom's review does make me curious. In his last sentence he says
something like: "we should read West because of his prophecy and
because of the disturbing laughter that he produces/triggers in us,
when we get nearer to the abyss the American religion has lead the
American soul to."
(own quick translation)

Hmm

Otto

2006/8/22, Paul Mackin <paul.mackin at verizon.net>:
>
> On Aug 21, 2006, at 8:57 PM, Dave Monroe wrote:
>
> > I recall Bloom's advice on reading The Crying of Lot
> > 49 being to read it straight through, then read it
> > again immediately thereafter ...
>
>
> I remember something stranger. In speaking of "influence" and the
> possibility of canonization he said something to effect that
> paradoxically Lot 49 seemed to have been a forerunner of  Miss
> Lonelyhearts. A putdown of Pynchon I thought. Sometimes I  think
> Bloom's tendency to dwell on Lot 49 over GR and V. derives from the
> fact  it is short.
>
> Sort of like French liking Jerry Lewis. Damning American culture with
> faint praise.
>
> Or maybe not, dunno.
>
> > --- Ya Sam <takoitov at hotmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Quote from Book TV feature on Bloom. Correct me if I
> >> misheard anything.
> >>
> >> 'V. and Gravity's Rainbow seem to me less as
> >> achievements than the extraordinary earlier novel
> >> which came between those two books, The Crying
> >> of Lot 49, which is a superb shot out of hell as
> >> it were, and a book I cannot reread too often...."
> >