James goes to the dogs

[Mark Kohut]

Hey Doug,

Sorry to get you wrong.

Mark

--- On Wed, 7/22/09, Doug Millison <DOUGMILLISON at comcast.net> wrote:

> From: Doug Millison <DOUGMILLISON at comcast.net>
> Subject: James goes to the dogs
> To: "Pynchon-L" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2009, 3:51 PM
> Not to nit-pick, although Heaven
> knows this is a forum where little things can take on
> awesome significance, I actually wrote "Pynchon, in putting
> a novel by Henry James in the hands of a canine reader,
> seems to be making a point about that author, or his art, or
> both." I don't know how I could have been more vague or
> inclusive.   But I didn't and don't write "it
> must mean something" as Mark K says, because I don't believe
> it "must mean something," I'm as happy to let Pynchon's
> phrase not mean anything in particular, I can enjoy it just
> for the music of his narration of this detail of ATD, for
> the chuckle that arises at the sight of a dog reading a
> novelist as refined as James. It doesn't have to mean
> anything more than what it is on its face, for me to enjoy
> it at this level.
> 
> If as if the Petillon passage Dave Monroe so helpfully
> provides might suggest, Pynchon takes to heart James'
> method, perhaps via Pugnax he's looking lovingly into his
> Master's gaze.  Or maybe not.  As TRP say, which
> do you want it to be?
> 
>