Finished IV - flashes of understanding

[Martin Eve]

I too have just finished reading the proof copy of IV and greatly
enjoyed it. I found it to be one of the funniest of Pynchon's novels,
probably because it maintains a high pace, which I did not get the sense
of in Against the Day.

Conversely, I'd say it lacks the seriousness and impact of Gravity's
Rainbow, or indeed any of the other texts. Just my personal view.

I was somewhat struck by the unity of perspective and character; seemed
a real return to Lot 49/Vineland.

In answer to the perspectives question, I agree with János; it's rooted
in today with a strong satirical pair of golden fangs doing their
copper-lined biting work on the era depicted.

Martin

On 6/18/09, János Székely <miksaapja at gmail.com> wrote:
> > rich
> >
> > Upgraded, updated.
> >
> > J
> >
> > rich<richard.romeo at gmail.com> írta (2009. június 18. 18:09):
>> >> didn't he do that in Vineland?
>> >>
>> >> On 6/18/09, János Székely <miksaapja at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> >>> From today's perspective, absolutely. I should say it is largely
about
>>> >>> the genesis of today's perspective. Plus: much irony and nostalgia.
>>> >>>
>>> >>> János
>>> >>>
>>> >>> 2009/6/18  <kelber at mindspring.com>:
>>>> >>>> Without giving any details, do you have a sense of whether it was
>>>> >>>> written,
>>>> >>>> at least in part, back then or is it written from today's
perspective?
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> Laura
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> >>>>>From: János Székely <miksaapja at gmail.com>
>>>>> >>>>>Sent: Jun 18, 2009 1:27 AM
>>>>> >>>>>To: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>>>>> >>>>>Subject: Finished IV - flashes of understanding
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>>I've finished reading IV (at long last). Admitting I love it, and
>>>>> >>>>>without offering teasers, all I can say (once again, I think)
is that
>>>>> >>>>>the plot takes place in the same time and (as far as I know)
the same
>>>>> >>>>>place when and where OBA finished the bulk of GR. So it helps you
>>>>> >>>>>understand, uh, some of the more surrealistic-looking aspects
of the
>>>>> >>>>>earlier novel. (Aha-Phänomen.)
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>>> >>>>>János
>>>>> >>>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>>> >>>>
>>> >>>
>>> >>>
>> >>
> >