Hitchens on Pynchon

[Michael Bailey]

 A.J. wrote:

> I understand if Pynchon wants his work to stand on its own, but that seems
> like a lame thing to hide behind.

the work?  anything but lame...

that's probably not what you meant...

subtext might be something like, this place and time's literary
conversation includes public appearances by authors
in person, radio, TV and magazines (and now the net), it's his duty
and he actually needs to provide an excuse for not doing this.

I've already weighed in on how I think writers who become public
personalities should be the ones providing explanations, if not
excuses, for doing so...
watching a writer dude on tv will take time out of my ever-too-brief
reading hours, the default for writers should be a stately
non-appearance like Mr Pynchon's, I opine

oh, and welcome to the list, if, as it seems to me, you are new!


mike bailey