rubrics (I like that word), wrecking crews and hugfests

[Mark Kohut]

I just want to post, 'cause I have nothing else important to do, that this post seems the rightly balanced way to judge IV within the other works. OR, I agree with it, is what I'm sayin'. 

Yet, I agree with Laura (and Rich) about some groaners and uninspired stuff in IV, yet I liked it a lot for its less ambitious achievements, it seems obvious to say. But, I admit I may like it beyond its achievements
because it was written by TRP. 

I seldom make time to read noir fiction, the reputed best or just any anyway. 

And having reread GR since, the echoes are echoing. Given John C.'s and Monroe's and Morris's (and others) discoveries of just the meanings to the name Sportello, I cannot help but see TRP always sayin' a little more than Roger Simon may have in his doper noir, just sayin'.......

--- On Wed, 11/25/09, Carvill, John <john.carvill at sap.com> wrote:

> From: Carvill, John <john.carvill at sap.com>
> Subject: RE: rubrics (I like that word), wrecking crews and hugfests
> To: "kelber at mindspring.com" <kelber at mindspring.com>, "pynchon-l at waste.org" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Date: Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 8:05 AM
> Seems the p-list is splitting into
> two versions of itself: those who are/aren't happy with IV.
> 
> The Pynchon I was talking about - he of the powerful
> imagination and prose, etc. - published a colossal book
> called 'Against the Day' a few years back, which was stuffed
> so full of beauty and dualities that you could hardly move
> for 'em. IV is a very different book, but I find it
> thoroughly enjoyable on its own terms.
> 
> What is strange is that I have noticed at least some
> correlation between those who didn't like ATD and those who
> don't like IV. Not saying that includes you, Laura, just
> that I'd have expected the people who're disappointed by IV
> to have loved ATD, but that doesn't always seem to be the
> case. Maybe someone should take a survey!
> 
> Plus, lightness aside, IV still has plenty of
> autobiographical hints, and there remains the hugely
> intriguing question of how 'connected' to GR it is.
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org
> [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org]
> On Behalf Of kelber at mindspring.com
> 
> >From: "Carvill, John
> 
> But writing occult-informed/inflected works, and satirising
> occultism, well, it's that sort of duality that makes
> Pynchon Pynchon.  That and the beautiful prose,
> unrivalled imagination, and humour, of course.
> 
> The Pynchon of IV isn't the Pynchon of GR. 
> Duality?  Some.  Humor, maybe, but beautiful prose
> and unrivalled imagination are sorely lacking in IV. 
> Not to say there aren't one or two passages that are worth
> quoting, but you have to hunt for them.  In GR, you can
> find them on almost any page.
> 
> Laura
>