pynchon-l-digest V2 #8060

[Don Antenen]

I haven't been active on this list in a long time, but I wanted to chime in 
about Roth.  I think Goodbye Columbus is a transcendent book, and the whole body 
of Roth's work is overwhelming.  Has anyone ever written that many good novels 
(with a few great ones and a few not so great ones thrown in for good measure)?

Roth and Pynchon are incomparable, but that's true of ANYONE and Pynchon (or 
anyone and Roth, for that matter).

I could happily read nothing but Roth for the next two years.  Not sure how many 
other writers I could say that about.

all the best,
Don




On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 5:34 PM, alice wellintown wrote:

> Two good descriptions of PR.  His sentneces are clean and tight. He
> knows how to write. His stories don't lock me in. Mostly Jewish Jersey
> Fair.  Pynchon's a word master. Roth is one of the best best sellers
> on the market. We might Compare Apples and Orange Acid.
>
> Roth makes good use of a sentence. Utilitarian is the wrong word for
> his language skill. He drives. Pynchon flies.
>
> On Wed, May 11, 2011 at 4:54 PM,  <malignd at aol.com> wrote:
> > Utilitarian?  It may not be self-consciously poetic but it's masterful.
>  It
> > has tremendous rhythm and drive and propulsive energy.  It never sags,
> not
> > for a sentence.  He locks me in quicker than any writer I can name.
> >
> >