P defends V. ...

[Natália Portinari]

> On Sun, Aug 29, 2010 at 5:52 PM, Mark Kohut <markekohut at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> I think his remark that he "learned a thing or two"  IMPLIES (via usage)
> that he learned a thing or two in the doing--the writing---
> of V.....which means thing one and thing two (as The Cat in the Hat is
> always saying) are IN the finished novel V....
>
> P.S. I think he would have trashed V. about as hard as he trashes Lot 49 if
> he thought it was, in general, a failure....


Of course, but maybe V. was exempt from critique because he saw it as the
opportunity to learn, while CofL49 is the book in which he forgot what he
thought he had learned...

Robin said:

> And I notice a distinct improvement in overall writing skills in CoL49 as
> compared to "V." I'm not talking about the big themes—probably better
> handled in the bigger and more expansive/inclusive "V." I'm talking about
> the flow of the sentences, the quality of the parodies, the general flow of
> the page. And that voice is much improved beyond that by the time we get to
> Gravity's Rainbow.
>

There's no argument against that, and not just when it comes to dialogue.
The language itself is explored very weakly in V.; the witty pynchonian
humor and parody aren't even close to the later books. I like the flow of V.
because it's an obviously young and inexperienced author trying to find his
style and anticipating many things that would be important for him later on.
It's Pynchon growing while writing (which is what Mark was saying, after
all).
Saying it's part of the "American novel" tradition as a way of justifying
the conspicuous literary flaws, that Pynchon himself admits? Come on.

Enough particulars of Doc Sportello line up neatly enough with the reclusive
> author as to suggest a certain element of autobiography. Connecting IV back
> to Gravity's Rainbow illuminates the sources for certain "signs" and
> "signals" in Pynchon's novels.


Sure. I don't think Alice/Terrance understands that by this you don't mean
that Pynchon IS Doc Sportello. But sure, there are parallels...
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