GR translation: sugar faces

[Mike Jing]

Interesting find.  It is much easier to understand in this context though.


On Mon, Mar 4, 2013 at 12:18 AM, David Payne <dpayne1912 at hotmail.com> wrote:

>
> This seems like a related use of the term, although it also doesn't
> clearly define it (
> http://www.balajisebookworld.com/Ebooks/Roberts,%20Nora%20-%20MACGREGORS%2003%20-%20Daniel%20Ian.html
> ):
>
> She didn't need his help, she thought as she tugged off her mittens and
> slapped them into her lap. She was perfectly capable of doing her duty. The
> very idea of his saying she had too much to do. Why, in the spring there
> was twice as much, with planting and tending the kitchen garden, harvesting
> herbs. She was a strong, capable woman, not some weak, whimpering girl.
>
> He was probably used to ladies, she thought with a sneer. Polished sugar
> faces that simpered and fluttered behind fans. Well, she was no lady with
> silk dresses and kid slippers, and she wasn't a bit ashamed of it. She sent
> a glare in Ian's direction. And if he thought she pined for drawing rooms,
> he was very much mistaken.
>
>
> > Date: Sun, 3 Mar 2013 12:30:52 -0800
> > From: antizoyd at yahoo.com
> > Subject: Re: GR translation: sugar faces
> > To: pynchon-l at waste.org
> >
> > At one time people thought acne was caused by excessive consumption of
> sugar (among other things). Acne could be said to punch holes in one's skin.
> > Rich
> >
> >
> >
> > --- On Sun, 3/3/13, Markekohut <markekohut at yahoo.com> wrote:
> >
> > > From: Markekohut <markekohut at yahoo.com>
> > > Subject: Re: GR translation: sugar faces
> > > To: "Bekah" <bekah0176 at sbcglobal.net>
> > > Cc: "Mike Jing" <gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>, "Pynchon Mailing
> List" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
> > > Date: Sunday, March 3, 2013, 9:32 AM
> > > Bekah's gone deep enough....
> > >
> > > Sugar faces are faces made of sugar some egg whites, maybe
> > > nothing else in cakes and cupcakes, prob avly
> > > cookies...etc.....
> > >
> > > Yes, thin, frail, fragile....like old punch cards....
> > >
> > > Sent from my iPad
> > >
> > > On Mar 3, 2013, at 10:22 AM, Bekah <bekah0176 at sbcglobal.net>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > I doubt "sugar faces"  is something tangible
> > > -  it brings to my mind cookies of some sort -
> > > white cookies with faces on them - but very fragile.
> > > > http://www.bakingandmistaking.com/2011/04/coconut-lace-cookies.html
> > > -  but I've never seen a white one -  maybe OBA's
> > > mom had a recipe.
> > > >
> > > > I suspect the "files of cards pierced frail as sugar
> > > faces"  are old computer punch cards so full of holes
> > > they look like lace cookies (white of course).  These
> > > cards were in use both during WWII and in the early
> > > '70s,  when GR was written.
> > > >
> > > > Surely TPR could have found a more appropriate
> > > metaphor, but … .
> > > >
> > > > Bekah
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Mar 2, 2013, at 10:03 PM, Mike Jing <
> gravitys.rainbow.cn at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > >> P254.21   Here Slothrop stages a
> > > brilliant Commando raid, along with faithful companion
> > > Blodgett Waxwing, on Shell Mex House itself—right into the
> > > heart of the Rocket’s own branch office in London. Mowing
> > > down platoons of heavy security with his little Sten,
> > > kicking aside nubile and screaming WRAC secretaries (how
> > > else is there to react, even in play?), savagely looting
> > > files, throwing Molotov cocktails, the Zoot-suit Zanies at
> > > last crashing into the final sanctum with their trousers up
> > > around their armpits, smelling of singed hair, spilled
> > > blood, to find not Mr. Duncan Sandys cowering before their
> > > righteousness, nor open window, gypsy flight, scattered
> > > fortune cards, nor even a test of wills with the great
> > > Consortium itself—but only a rather dull room, business
> > > machines arrayed around the walls calmly blinking, files of
> > > cards pierced frail as sugar faces, frail as the last German
> > > walls standing without support after the bombs have been and
> > > now twisting high above, threatening to fold down out of the
> > > sky from the force of the wind that has blown the smoke
> > > away. . . .
> > > >>
> > > >> What are "sugar faces"?
> > > >
> > >
>
>
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