Starting the Group Read +SPOILERS

[kelber at mindspring.com]

Back from vacation, I've spent the day skimming thru zillions of p-list e-mails.  Being as I have no life, I'm totally down for the group read, though, as explained below, I'd prefer to host a LATER chapter.

I had a tough time getting hold of the book as we drove through touristy areas of Maine.  Lots of bookstores filled with Maine lore, gardening, and needlepoint kind of stuff.  I finally found a bookstore that had IV not on the New and Recommended table up front, but callously shoved next to a lone copy of ATD in the fiction section at the back of the store.  At least later, in Montreal, there was a gratifying stack up front in a bilingual bookstore.

......SPOILER ALERT.....

Now, sad to say that although I approached the book with low expectations, I was still disappointed.  No!  NO! Don't set upon me with dismissive barbs, I can't help it!  I just didn't enjoy it all that much.  Sorry!  I'm still looking forward to the group read, though.  For the record, while I really disliked the first half, the second half was much better (though not to the point that it made slogging through the beginning worthwhile).  I knew it wasn't going to be a GR or even a V, COL49 or M&D.  I kind of hoped it would be an ATD or VL.  I'm not all that crazy about detective fiction, and I don't enjoy stoner humor when not stoned.  None of this should matter when reading Pynchon.  But here, it did.  I've tried reading Tom Robbins but I didn't like him, so I stopped.  But the beginning of IV reminded me not of why I worship TRP, but of why I dislike TR.  That's a problem.

A second warning sign that I wasn't happily in Pynchon land: As I was reading IV, my daughter was often sitting nearby reading Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon.  I found myself pausing in my read too often to ask her what part she was up to.  It's a problem if such a classic Pynchon wannabe seems more Pynchon-like than the Pynchon I'm reading.  I missed Pynchon.  I think Pynchon started missing Pynchon too, which is why the second half (roughly around the time the action switches to Vegas) got a little better.  I agree with what Rich said (forgive me, Rich, if I've misremembered or misunderstood), that there's nothing particularly new in the book.  There's certainly nothing mind-expanding or mind-blowing either.  It's OK with me if TRP wants to take a break.  He obviously had a blast writing this.  For god's sake, he's earned that.  He doesn't need to pander to frothing-at-the-mouth GR fans every time he punches a keyboard. In response to my daughter's polite inquiries re: my scowling, I said that it seemed like TRP had put his best out-takes from Vineland into ATD, and saved the worst for IV.  There was too much that was just, well, lame.  Things that were meant to be funny fell flat.  Example:  the Charlie the Tuna's death wish discussion.  Who hadn't made similar observations when watching those old commercials?

Some other specifics that really made me groan:

(p. 158):

"Jason took a withered joint from his pocket and lit up.  Doc recognized the smell of inexpensive Mexican produce, and also that someone had forgotten to remove the seeds and stems.  When Jason offered him a hit, he pretended to inhale and after a while handed it back.
'Righteous weed, man.'
'Yeah, just saw my dealer, he charges high, but it's worth it.'" 



-----Original Message-----
>From: Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>

>
>Dave Monroe is the one here who has most brought up the question,
>so, I continue in his vein:
>
>I have recently stated, and others seem to agree, that
>we might wait for some regular host volunteers---like
>the very responsible Laura K.--to get back from vacation
>and catch up on the book. Maybe that is still best.
>
>However, with one person's post the other day, it occurred to me
>that maybe there are others now posting more regularly
>who will NOT be able to post or host once September----that
>other new year beginning for many---comes. 
>
>I know I feel 'time's winged chariot' and am champing, chomping,
>straining to start the Group Read.....It will be exciting, as 
>interesting, I'm sure, as all the drug knowledge we've recently learned.
>(I'm too paranoid to report MY drug experiences here--THEY can
>look up all this stuff--- I feel such courage for the fearless
>tellers here:-).......
>
>Anyway, Laura would surely not want one of the first chapters; we know
>Laura is a real quick study and I'll bet did get the book on her trip,
>but whether or not, we know she'll be up to speed rill soon. And it's 
>not like we have no archives and aren't redundant, or don't repeat ourselves or say the same thing over and over and you can say that again, yes? 
>
>Or,-- I'm presenting it both ways, no excluded middle divide here:
>This online "talking" about Inherent Vice, without literally 
>pointing to much of the text is ALSO fun and interesting. Very Pychonian:
>using IV, like V in "V." and other examples in TRPs work,  as the metaphor itself to talk about Pynchon.......
>
>So, maybe it is time to start? Or, as the shrink says at the end of Portnoy's Complaint, "So, ve are ready to begin, yes?" 
>
>Or keep circling and rereading?
> 
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