Book Description

[jbor at bigpond.com]

On 17/07/2006:

> I find it very hard to believe Pynchon wrote this, unless the entire 
> thing is
> meant as a parody of book blurbs.  It's otherwise too insipid and 
> trite.
>
> If it is his and a parody, it's not at all bad, although it strikes me 
> as a
> little defensive and prickly, anticipating the sort of reduction he 
> expects to
> come.  A little unbecoming.

Banal and slightly pompous, yes. As are a lot of his blurbs and 
non-fiction. But, referring to himself in the third person as "the 
author"? Embracing evil corporate behemoth Amazon.com? There are some 
... irregularities, Miz Maas. Which should be obvious enough to anyone.

And even more than that, why would he bother, or feel the need to post 
a self-blurb, five months beforehand? Unless, as you say, he's 
defending the work: "Let the reader decide." It comes across as though 
he's batting off editorial criticism or suggestions he didn't follow. 
If it is "authentic", then it doesn't bode well for the book at all.

But scepticism is warranted, surely, especially considering the track 
record here. Let alone the fact that it was taken down from the Amazon 
page within a day.

best