Kathyrn Hume on Late Coover

[Rich]

Thx for yr comments. 

I was criticizing specifically ATD and IV. 
There's something off about them, like they were unnecessary. But that's just what I think. 

If he is commenting on past work from some assumed enlightened headspace I really couldnt care less since those works are what remains vital in reading Pynchon. 

To belabor the point I just think with the exception of m&d this leveling off of his writing to character is a major disappointment. We all change I get it but Pynchon isn't Faulkner.

In some ways I'll cut him slack for ATD. But IV really stinks man. The man maybe is just too close to that material. It's like the guy who did the Wire following up with the mostly unwatchable Treme. The guy is too close to the material. The wire was so multilayered and insightful. Treme is all tell and no show. Pynchon worries more about authenticity in IV that he forgot about being the insightful guy he usually is.

Rich

On Sep 9, 2012, at 5:41 PM, bandwraith at aol.com wrote:

> de gustibus non est disputandum.
> 
> At some point, however, the artist and the work of art must interesect. With so many tendrils dangling between his works, I can't help but feel that his later works are a comment on, and continuation of, his artistic vision, and certainly that is entitled to mature, no? Whether anyone likes it or not, is probably less of a concern for an established artist, like Pynchon, with an assured following.
> 
> If you read ATD really closely, I assert, you can make out a few liftings from the p-list, scattered about. I don't care to elaborate, but I believe they're there. I would ask:
> If you were Pynchon, wouldn't you be curious about what all the postings were about? I can't believe he hasn't peeked, and probably come away with a mixture of amazement and chagrin. It might help to explain some of the bogosity in ATD.
> 
> At any rate, whether his later work is lousy or not, I'll leave to you. You're much better read than me. But I disagree with your primary assertion that he has become sentimental, or less "edgy" or whatever- if anything, he has left the traditional image of the family in a bloody shambles. The final pages of Vineland comes to mind,
> with Prarie alone, amongst the redwoods, in her sleeping bag, masturbating, begging the departed Vond to come back and take her away, promising to come this time. There are many more examples, but I won't waste your time. You are either receptive or you're not. Go with Coover.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rich <richard.romeo at gmail.com>
> To: bandwraith <bandwraith at aol.com>
> Cc: pynchon-l <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> Sent: Sun, Sep 9, 2012 3:56 pm
> Subject: Re: Kathyrn Hume on Late Coover
> 
> 
> As I said I'm criticizing his artistic depiction. Don't care if he's grown up.
> It remains lousy writing. That's all I care about
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> On Sep 9, 2012, at 12:51 PM, bandwraith at aol.com wrote:
> 
>> On the other hand, maybe he just grew up?
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: rich <richard.romeo at gmail.com>
>> To: “pynchon-l at waste.or
>> g“ <pynchon-l at waste.org>
>> Sent: Thu, Sep 6, 2012 5:05 pm
>> Subject: Kathyrn Hume on Late Coover
>> 
>> ...
>> 
>> anyway, that's how I see it
>> 
>> rich
>> 
>