IJ humor

[mikebailey at speakeasy.net]

-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Julius [mailto:daniel.julius at gmail.com]

Chris wrote: "Well, Powers certainly isn't funny (or at least the one book I read by him, Operation Wandering Soul wasn't), but DFW has his moments (particularly in his essays, which are my favorite things he's written). The distinction between his brand of humor & Pynch's is that Pynch loves slapstick, cartoons, bad puns & other general kinds of schtick. One can't imagine a DFW novel with a pie throwing scene, or a line like "I Ching feet". 

Another thing that makes Pynch distinct is his portrayal of sexually unusual practices. Not that there aren't other authors who do this, I just can't think of any 'Pynchonesque' authors who do. I'm open to your suggestions." 
_Infinite Jest_'s account of Doony Glynn's mishap with some roofing equipment is exquisite slapstick, but that's an island in an


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can't get rid of this blue line...

I seem to remember getting the whole Doony Glynn thing as a humor memo on the office grapevine in about 1990
are we sure DFW wrote that?

OTOH - IJ truly does have some wonderful yucks, to mention which would be to spoil (ok just one, to prove there is a slapstick side to him: the Shriners at the funeral, omigosh that's funny, just a brief touch but hilarious) 

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