Guess you Had to be there

[Robin Landseadel]

On Aug 6, 2009, at 7:43 AM, rich wrote:

> Finished IV this morning--I understand most here love the book and
> that's OK but I really didn't like it.
> I can give you reasons but what's the point. I'll just say maybe you
> had to be there. It was a struggle to finish
>
> maybe when i get my head straight I can elaborate a bit more
>
> rich

You might be right.

I was there. I seriously doubt I'd like Vineland nearly as much if it  
wasn't as if Pynchon scripted my mother's life in the Green Triangle.  
My Grandfather, who lived in Culver City, had a photo—not a print, a  
photo— of the Spruce Goose. The presence of Howard Hughes' enterprises  
were ubiquitous in and around L.A. when I was living down there.  I  
remember the TRW sign, I remember the ARPA sign. There's related CIA  
material in Inherent Vice that corresponds closely with the CIA  
material in The Crying of Lot 49. And I've always loved the Borgesian  
confusion of Raymond Chandler's plots.

Sorry you didn't like it.