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Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon Group Read
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Bhavani
Jan 4, 2012, 1:19:01 PM1/4/12
to
It seems this group is winding down for the time being. Getting
invited to read this epic tome couldn't have come at a better time. I
had recently blogged describing how Robert Anton Wilson, James Joyce
and others used the language of Qabalah (spelt with a "Q" to
distinguish it from traditional kabbalah) in their writings. I'd
never read Pynchon before but it became immediately apparent that he
utilizes the same language extremely effectively. I take it as “Proof
of Concept.” Like Joyce and Wilson before him, Pynchon gives the keys
in Against the Day.
Here’s an effective soundscape Pynchon creates to alter mood and give
a taste of an alternate reality (p.302):
“Pandemonium did not begin to amount to a patch on what seemed to be
approaching them instead of they it, swelling to surround them a
valley-wide symphony of gunshots, screaming, blaring on musical
instruments, freight-wagon traffic, coloratura laughter from the
pavement nymphs, glass-breaking, Chinese gongs being bashed, horses,
horse-hardware jingling, swinging door hinges creaking as Frank and
Dally presently arrived at the Gallows Frame Saloon, about halfway
down Colorado Street.”
invited to read this epic tome couldn't have come at a better time. I
had recently blogged describing how Robert Anton Wilson, James Joyce
and others used the language of Qabalah (spelt with a "Q" to
distinguish it from traditional kabbalah) in their writings. I'd
never read Pynchon before but it became immediately apparent that he
utilizes the same language extremely effectively. I take it as “Proof
of Concept.” Like Joyce and Wilson before him, Pynchon gives the keys
in Against the Day.
Here’s an effective soundscape Pynchon creates to alter mood and give
a taste of an alternate reality (p.302):
“Pandemonium did not begin to amount to a patch on what seemed to be
approaching them instead of they it, swelling to surround them a
valley-wide symphony of gunshots, screaming, blaring on musical
instruments, freight-wagon traffic, coloratura laughter from the
pavement nymphs, glass-breaking, Chinese gongs being bashed, horses,
horse-hardware jingling, swinging door hinges creaking as Frank and
Dally presently arrived at the Gallows Frame Saloon, about halfway
down Colorado Street.”
Psmith
Jan 4, 2012, 2:37:54 PM1/4/12
to
Glad you like the book, Bhavani. I just got back from vacation, so I
plan to post more. I enjoy the book, but I have trouble keeping all
the characters straight.
My wife got me Positively Fourth Street for Christmas, and I
particularly enjoyed the sections about the Pynch.
plan to post more. I enjoy the book, but I have trouble keeping all
the characters straight.
My wife got me Positively Fourth Street for Christmas, and I
particularly enjoyed the sections about the Pynch.
Psmith
Jan 5, 2012, 5:02:39 PM1/5/12
to
On page 329 a character says of hiding, "Sooner or later you find
you're trusting people you shouldn't." This makes me think about
Pynchon's secrecy. Whenever he writes about paranoia, I wonder about
his own life choices. Part of my fascination with Pynchon comes from
this blurring between his life and his work. One could see his life
as an artwork of absence.
you're trusting people you shouldn't." This makes me think about
Pynchon's secrecy. Whenever he writes about paranoia, I wonder about
his own life choices. Part of my fascination with Pynchon comes from
this blurring between his life and his work. One could see his life
as an artwork of absence.
Bhavani
Jan 7, 2012, 2:29:21 AM1/7/12
to
trusting people as possibly Pynchon suggesting to readers not to
invest belief in everything he says - in guerilla ontological fashion:
casting doubt about what to believe (trust) and what not to in the
grand conspiracy to get people to think for themselves rather than
automatically trusting the author will steer the reader right.
The comment about blurring his life and work reminds me of a similar
statement uttered by the Gertrude Stein character to Owen Wilson about
his writing and what she saw as the task of the Writer in the film
"Midnight In Paris." I can't repeat it verbatim but the film is worth
watching for that and much more. It's about a self-described
"Hollywood hack" played by Wilson trying to make it as a real writer,
his adventures with Time, and how he successfully does it.
Psmith
Jan 18, 2012, 12:55:13 PM1/18/12
to
I really enjoyed "Midnight in Paris," especially the presentation of
the surrealists.
the surrealists.
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