BtZ42 pages 116-121

[Mark Kohut]

p. 116.
 Another low in critical observation below (not explication, God help us),
or as James Wood is always saying when he points out the littlest things,
the subtle words showing sweeping observation of life, that he finds make
the best writers the best. They must notice so much [in the world] to get
it all smoothly, thematically, within characters, into novels...his realism
bias, we've said--but one knows what he means and why he is in the
tradition of not liking (most) novels of ideas or allegorical-like works,
etc.

"Even in movies there's always someone behind him being careful not to
talk. etc." I find this surprising
felt observation to be another piece of fine social observation. Back in
the moviegoing of my youth, true for y'all?
everyone went in groups, couples the smallest group, and bustled and made
small talk, opening candy or dove into
popcorn noticeably......so, quiet around one would have been anomalous, as
P has Slothrop feel.



On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 6:29 AM, Eileen Pierce <eileenpierce333 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> They’ve cut Slothrop loose again, he wanders, seeking places the followers
> might not follow.  Released from St. Veronica’s, he is reunited with
> Darlene from St. Veronica's.  Then tea and candies with Mrs. Quoad.  (Ha!)
>
> "The Meggezone is like being belted in the head with a Swiss Alp.  Menthol
> icicles immediately begin to grow from the roof of Slothrop’s mouth.  Polar
> bears seek toenail-holds up the freezing frosty-grape alveolar clusters  in
> his lungs.  It hurts his teeth too much to breathe, even through his nose,
> even necktie loosened, with his nose down inside the neck of his olive-drab
> T-shirt.  Benzoin vapors seep into his brain.  His head floats in a halo of
> ice.”  (Wow.)
>
> Slothrop in bed with Darlene, “hunting across the zero between waking and
> sleep”.  Mrs. Quoad is in the parlor dreaming of the King’s hand on her
> neck.  (Huh?)  Rocket and erection.  All the while, watched from behind the
> orange shade.
>
> Thank you p-listers for this fascinating group read.  I look forward to
> reading your thoughts on this section.  Enjoy the day!  e
>
>
> Eileen Pierce
> 608-512-6451
>
>
>
> -
> Pynchon-l / http://www.waste.org/mail/?listpynchon-l
>
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