Hitchens on Pynchon

[A.J.]

I suppose I did phrase that poorly. All I meant was that, he's written some
very important novels that have spoken to a lot of people, and he has had a
great deal of influence on literature. It's just a shame that someone of his
stature has kept such a consistently low profile. I don't want him to go on
Oprah and make cameos in crappy movies, or any of that stuff, I just wish
he'd accept speaking engagements every now and then, is all. Oh well, his
life, his choice.

On Wed, Jun 9, 2010 at 11:38 PM, Michael Bailey <
michael.lee.bailey at gmail.com> wrote:

>  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
>
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