IV Chapter 17 Thoughts

[Carvill, John]

Robin! Ferchissakes! Once again I must draw your attention to the following fact: Other people are aware of Chandler. Ok? I really really wish you would cease acting as if you are the world's greatest authority on Chandler. It is immensely annoying.

<< The thoroughly fictional Philip Marlowe may be able to handle liquor  
but neither Roger Wade nor Terry Lennox was very useful or responsible  
when in their cups. >>

What, if anything, does this have to do with your assertion that Doc's use of weed is analogous to Marlowe's consumption of liquor? There is no correlation, no similarity whatsoever.

<< And then one should consider the state of mind of  
the thoroughly alcoholic Raymond Chandler when cooking up the self  
consciously "literary" "Long Goodbye," written during the last days of  
his beloved wife Cissy. >>

Perhaps, but let me be clear that I already knew all about Chandler and The Long Goodbye, a long long time ago, as I imagine did many other p-listers. Your awareness of Chandler seems recently acquired, not to mention spotty. To call Chandler an 'alcoholic' is somewhat contentious, for one thing.

> One can build tolerance in time, this is throughly documented.

Tolerance can go up and down. Please, I know all about weed. When a teenager starts drinking alcohol, a very small amount will usually get him tipsy, but his tolerance builds up as his experience of drinking expands. Many times, a first toke of marijuana  will produce no effect at all, and in fact many people find their tolerance *decreases*, even to the point where only a few puffs on a joint will return them to a fully stoned state. This is a complex issue, and can't be shoe-horned to fit your argument.

> Seriously, can you place yourself inside the mind of Pynchon?

I don't know how to take that question. Seriously. The literal answer is, 'no, I cannot place myself inside the mind of Pynchon. Can you?' What on Earth do you mean?

<< Every bit of anecdotal evidence suggests that TRP was a wake-'n-bake  
type-just look at:

http://www.lrb.co.uk/v31/n24/bill-pearlman/short-cuts 		

. . . something you posted previously just today: >>

That was something in an article in the LRB, the link to which was in fact posted by Tore.

Yes, yes, Pynchon enjoyed a joint. We pretty much 'know' that and have done for quite a long time.

If you think Pynchon wrote Gravity's Rainbow whilst stoned, well, I really don't know what to say. That might suggest that you yourself have no experience of drugs, but I don't think that's the case. What is the alternative interpretation? I dunno. Too much experience of drugs?

<< For whatever reason, the subject of marijuana comes up all the time in  
biographical citations of the author and the subject comes up all the  
time in the novels as well. >>

Not for 'whatever reason'! For many obvious reasons: he was (is?) obviously a user of that useful substance. His books are very much informed and influenced by dope culture, and include many explicit drug references. For openers. How could the subject not come up? Doesn't mean he wrote his books whilst stoned.