audio version

[Paul Mackin]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <kelber at mindspring.com>
To: <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 10:15 AM
Subject: IVIV: audio version


> My husband's only read V and COL49, but I suggested he try IV, since he 
> lived in LA during the 70s.  He got the audio tape and said he liked the 
> descriptions of people and places, but he thought the plot was weird and 
> disjointed.  Oh well, that's Pynchon, he supposed.  After a while, it 
> dawned on him:  his CD player was set to randomize the tracks - he'd 
> listened to the story completely out of order.
>
> Maybe it's worth reading that way?  Then people, places and atmosphere 
> would take precedence over the weak plot.

Years back when the p-list was giving advice to new readers of GR I 
suggested starting with random sampling in various parts of the book before 
going to the beginning. That way you get some experience with the Pynchon 
style and  some inkling of the kind of thing to look for and what not to 
worry about. After that the serious linear read-through wll be less 
bewildering.

P (probably the earlier reader of GR and Pynchon in general in the p-list 
although Doug comes close)