The Recognitions

[Paul Mackin]

On 5/6/2011 12:38 PM, kelber at mindspring.com wrote:
> I hear Pollyanna's a thought-provoking read.
>
> Laura
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Jed Kelestron<jedkelestron at gmail.com>
>> Sent: May 6, 2011 1:29 PM
>> To: pynchon -l<pynchon-l at waste.org>
>> Subject: Re: The Recognitions
>>
>> I always had trouble reading Dante's Inferno and Faust because they
>> were so damned negative, too. These highbrow authors need to lighten
>> up.
>
Two very good ironic comments.

How's a serious novel supposed to help disabuse us of the  
inauthenticity in our thinking brought about by the exigences of 
civilization if it can't inflict some pain and suffering on the reader?

Why do we read if it's not to be strengthened,  toughened up?

Didn't Pynchon say somewhere he didn't want his books to be easy to read?

P