The benefit of the doubt

[Mark Thibodeau]

A little background on my Pynchon fandom.

The first Pynchon novel I read was Vineland. I loved it, and have read
it three times.

The second Pynchon novel I read was The Crying of Lot 49. I liked it,
but not as much as Vineland. I've read Lot 49 three times, and I like
it more every time.

Next, I tried reading Pynchon's debut novel, V. Then I tried again.
And again. Six times I tried, always being defeated by that blasted
third chapter. It took me seven runs at it, but once I finally
finished V for the first time, I loved it. I've read it once more
since then.

After V., I decided it was time to try Gravity's Rainbow. Again, I
failed on my first few attempts, and I have yet to complete it in one
run (although I've read most of it piecemeal). I will one day read
Gravity's Rainbow through... but not this year.

Mason & Dixon I found to be charming and easy to read for some reason.
Immensely enjoyable, if not quite so intoxicating as Pynchon at his
best (sections of V. and Gravity's Rainbow). I do feel the need to
read it once more, at least, before passing final judgement.

I have yet to attempt Against the Day.

Inherent Vice, I've read twice, and listened to the audio book version
once. Despite some fun bits that harken to Vineland, it does feel like
somewhat of a minor work - even, perhaps, a cash-in.

Now, I'm three pages into Bleeding Edge, and one thing astonishes me -
the fact that a seventy-five-year-old man wrote it. It reads like the
work of a much, MUCH younger writer. Is this not an accomplishment in
and of itself? Should we keep that in mind in our critiques?

Cheers!
Yer Old Pal Jerky
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Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l