books every intelligent person should read

Thu Apr 10 18:05:12 CDT 2014

This caught my attention.  

I read Powell's masterpiece a few years ago and will re-read it in the next
couple of years.

Cannot recommend it too highly.  The character of Kenneth Widmerpool is one
of those masterpieces of characterization that, ultimately, sends chills
down your spine.

Definitely something that anyone who has admired Proust would love.

Joel Grant

Bothell, WA  (where, I am happy to say, THC is legal)

From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On Behalf
Of Antonin Scriabin
Sent: Thursday, April 10, 2014 3:44 PM
To: MalignD at aol.com
Cc: pynchon -l
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

Dance to the Music of Time always catches my eye at bookstores because of
its sheer size. I'll check it out on your recommendation. 

On Apr 10, 2014 6:41 PM, <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> > wrote:

Also -- has anyone on this list read Anthony Powell's Dance to the Music of
Time?  I've read it twice -- twelve novels, about 250 pages each, England in
the 20th century, WW I through the sixties.  A hundred memorable characters,
really great writing.  

-----Original Message-----
From: malignd <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> >
To: pynchon-l <pynchon-l at waste.org <mailto:pynchon-l at waste.org> >
Sent: Thu, Apr 10, 2014 6:37 pm
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

Everyone should read Flann O'Brien.  I suspect he'd appeal to the not so
smart as well. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Antonin Scriabin <kierkegaurdian at gmail.com
<mailto:kierkegaurdian at gmail.com> >
To: MalignD at aol.com <mailto:MalignD at aol.com>  <malignd at aol.com
<mailto:malignd at aol.com> >
Cc: pynchon -l <pynchon-l at waste.org <mailto:pynchon-l at waste.org> >
Sent: Thu, Apr 10, 2014 6:32 pm
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

How about Darconville's Cat? That would probably go on my list. As would
Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. And At Swim-Two-Birds by O'Brien. 

On Apr 10, 2014 6:23 PM, <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> > wrote:

It's certainly true of the great number of people who post and theorize and
rhapsodize incessantly about PF.

-----Original Message-----
From: Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com <mailto:cfalbert at gmail.com> >
To: malignd <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> >
Cc: Pynchon Liste <pynchon-l at waste.org <mailto:pynchon-l at waste.org> >
Sent: Thu, Apr 10, 2014 5:44 pm
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

I would add that the puzzle reflects a delirious joy which is contagious. 

love,

cfa

On Apr 10, 2014 5:37 PM, <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> > wrote:

Agree with puzzle vs. wit, but don't think puzzle to the detriment of
passion.  The lines in the poem about the suicide of Shade's daughter are
certainly not without passion.  Brian Boyd (or Alfred Appel) reported people
crying during these sections when VN read them in public.

I prefer Lolita. With Pale Fire N let the puzzle making take the lead to the
detriment of passion and real wit.  Puzzles and wit are not the same, nor
are they equals.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Morris <fqmorris at gmail.com <mailto:fqmorris at gmail.com> >
To: malignd <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> >
Cc: pynchon-l <pynchon-l at waste.org <mailto:pynchon-l at waste.org> >
Sent: Wed, Apr 9, 2014 8:07 pm
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

I prefer Lolita. With Pale Fire N let the puzzle making take the lead to the
detriment of passion and real wit.  Puzzles and wit are not the same, nor
are they equals. With Ada he completely got lost in a puzzle wrapped in
beautiful but senseless writing, and most don't even see the puzzle, taking
the writing at face value. 

I know many disagree with me on this. 

David Morros

On Wednesday, April 9, 2014, <malignd at aol.com <mailto:malignd at aol.com> >
wrote:

Why was this good fortune?  Both books are wonderful.

-----Original Message-----
From: Erik T. Burns <eburns at gmail.com <mailto:eburns at gmail.com> >
To: Mark Thibodeau <jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com <mailto:jerkyleboeuf at gmail.com>
>; Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com <mailto:cfalbert at gmail.com> >
Cc: Michael Bailey <mikebailey at gmx.us <mailto:mikebailey at gmx.us> >; P-list
<pynchon-l at waste.org <mailto:pynchon-l at waste.org> >
Sent: Wed, Apr 9, 2014 3:16 am
Subject: Re: books every intelligent person should read

I second that emotion. I had the good fortune to read Pale Fire _before_ 
Lolita._

  Original Message  
From: Mark Thibodeau
Sent: Wednesday, April 9, 2014 7:30 AM
To: Charles Albert
Cc: Erik T. Burns; Michael Bailey; P-list
Subject: Re: Re: books every intelligent person should read

I've read Pale Fire, and I loved it.

YOPJerky

On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 8:34 PM, Charles Albert <cfalbert at gmail.com
<mailto:cfalbert at gmail.com> > wrote:
> Hasn't anyone here read Pale Fire?
> 
> love,
> cfa
> 
> 
> On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 6:29 PM, Erik T. Burns <eburns at gmail.com
<mailto:eburns at gmail.com> > wrote:
>> 
>> mine would include _J R_ and _The Dog of the South_
>> 
>> On Tue, Apr 8, 2014 at 2:16 AM, Michael Bailey <mikebailey at gmx.us
<mailto:mikebailey at gmx.us> > wrote:
>> > Per Jacob
>> >
>> > ---Infinite Jest needs to be on here. That book made me love
writing.---
>> >
>> >
>> > - OK but what are your other nine (-:
>> >
>> > (Mine is already at 10 & although I liked ij, I'm disinclined to bump
>> > any to
>> > make room --- maybe put IJ as Alice's #9 but need to go ask
alice....but
>> > ms
>> > malice I think was looking for a bouquet of top tens which is always
>> > fun,
>> > why not add one?)
>> >
>> > - Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
>> -
>> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l
> 
> 
-
Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?list=pynchon-l

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