Lists & Quail

[Jim Gilbert]

I'm with Quail--as a reviewer (for the Mobile AL Register) I've had my
finished copy for about two weeks, and I'm also about 220 pages in. I told
my editor ahead of time I would read the book slowly and thoroughly (and, by
damn, I'm going to enjoy the experience) and he should not expect a timely
review, certainly no earlier than mid-December. He's fine with that, so I'm
under no pressure-nor do I believe any reviewer with this kind of book
should be. I understand why PW and places like that need to post early
reviews, but in the main this thing should not be rushed.

Quail, I also agree with your early impressions. Very readable, yet the
structure is intricate--as Tim Ware says, this is like a culmination; every
prior book is represented in some way (why is it not possible to read
Pynchon without comparing him to himself?) And the "9/11" chapter is indeed
one of the most fierce, palpably angry things Pynchon has ever written. I
was shaking as I read parts of it. (That's not really a spoiler, and that's
all I'll say.)

As for the infamous "listmaking" critique--it's not like TP is descending
into a Roger Waters-like grocery list mindset; there's little in the book so
far that resembles the "Slothrop's Desk" manner of list-making. He's using a
descriptive narrative cadence. It may be annoying to some, but it only begs
the question in my mind whether the Sun reviewer has read any Pynchon at all
since it's something he's been doing since V.

--Gilbert
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