Pynchon vs. Pynchon/bashing reviewers

[Andrew Pollock]

How so disagree?  Because there's also critical exegesis on the list?
I'm sure there is on buffy-l, too.  Of course I think Pynchon is worth
far far more than Joss Whedon, but Pynchon's worth doesn't change the
fact that we're gathered here because we're fans of his work, and fans
who self-select as engaged enough to join a mailing list devoted to
discussing his works.

My point about the reviews is that, positive or negative, they cannot
possibly be considered responses to the book.   And yet, only the
negative ones receive slagging here, as if THE MASTER needs protecting
by us here on the list.  I only saw one, very brief mention, all day
to the Modern Word review, which was, of course, positive.  I liked
that review too, but to let it pass while there's a thread running
whose subject line is a personal slur directed at Michiko Kakutani,
is, indeed, bad form.  If negative reviews suck because they cannot
yet do justice to the book, positive reviews must be in the same vein,
even if we agree (or want to agree) with them.

I'm shutting down my computer for the weekend, as I'm going away,
which I mention because I'd be happy to continue this discussion but
will be unable to do so this weekend.  Didn't want you to think I was
running out on it.

Happy Thanksgiving,
Andrew

On 11/21/06, Carvill John <johncarvill at hotmail.com> wrote:
> << This is a FAN LIST, the same as other
> fan communities on the web, whether for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, My
> Little Pony, or Harry Potter.>>
>
> Gotta disagree. And reviewers get bashed when they write ill-considered and
> gratuitously negative reviews which suggest that they fail to appreciate
> Pynchon's work overall, not just ATD. That Salon piece was particularly bad,
> for instance.
>
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