N P at all. Sean Penn and his publisher.

[Mark Kohut]

Hoping all who want to read further will find this interesting (enough) and
amusing.

You might be aware that Sean Penn has a novel out in which at least one
reviewer--loosely associative type , I presume ---has alluded to Pynchon.

I don't believe it and am not reading it (as I am some Pynchon-like novels)
because his movie showed a very confused
director, imho.

If you read many book reviews, you might have seen that almost NO ONE
believes
it works as a novel. Most say it less kindly.

Now, I wish you all could get a printed copy of the Wash Post as I
do--which I recommend.
(check yesterday's Pulitzers. And the Style and book sections regularly.
Remember my words
about that great illustrated review of Powers' The Overstory? For which the
designer/artist is/are being praised?)

Well, this is very different but not available online either, I don't
think. Not checking,

Penn's publisher has paid for a full page Wa Po ad:

            THE CRITICS AGREE:

"Repellant on one level, but stupid on so many others."

"Honestly, shut your face, Sean Penn."

And like that.

DECIDE FOR YOURSELF
 (for counterpoints by [ HOST OF FAMOUS NAMES] , including Rushdie and
Smiley among others, go to simonandschuster website, etc.)



I personally can't recall something like this since Norman Mailer's
publisher, against the onslaught of
negative reviews of ANCIENT EVENINGS, did posters and ads featuring
scathing reviews of accepted classics.
But I'm know I coudda missed some.

"This novel is a disgrace" on Anna Karenina or like that.