Pearlman on Pynchon

[Carvill, John]

<< Did you notice this bit?:

"He often wrote on coffee and grass."

And we're not talking aboule Jules here. >>

I did indeed. Of course. As did Robin! But so what? I really can't see a book like GR being composed whilst wasted. I mean, GR is hard to *read* whilst wasted!

Now, the author getting high and thinking about stuff, or taking a trip, then feeding those stoned thoughts and impressions into his work? Well of course, I don't think there can be any disputing that. All I'm saying is that I doubt Pynchon was either tripping or stoned on weed when he wrote GR, or any other book. 

Try this experiment: take a tab of LSD, let it take effect, ok? (Lets ignore the supposed disparity in dosage strength between the 60s and today.) Now, try putting on a Beatles album. Ok, assuming you can find the album and get it out of the sleeve, now try just switching on the hi-fi, selecting 'phono' on the amp, getting the record onto the turntable, moving the tone arm across and down onto the vinyl....etc. Can be a *real* challenge if you're tripping. Now imagine sitting down and writing one of the greatest works of 20th Century literature....