Doesn't really matter, ATD is his most difficult by a long shot. There is something to be said for reading his big books in order, V. GR, M&D, then ATD, the latter 3 are a second attempt at V. and it is interesting to see how he developed it into nearly 3000 pages across three novels but it probably will not help you understand or anything.
V. probably is best first or skipped, it is a bit of a a mess and a prime example of why one should not be their own editor but it has a charm and a fantastic narrative voice. I am quite fond of it and I suspect I would hate it if I read it after ATD.
Delete this, Against the Day is one of his best. The only Pynchon Lite books are Inherent Vice (which was redeemed by the PTA movie) and Bleeding Edge.
What the frick are you talking about? Reading = comprehension you dolt.
Its obviously not four novels taped together, all the narratives tie into each other. Is this some ESL thing?
2 months ago
Anonymous
I would like to believe you are trolling, but given the state of IQfy these days I don't think you are.
Been reading Pynch in order. About 100 pages left of GR. Should I take a break and read something else ?(confederacy of dunces and tender is the night just acquired) or should I continue on to Vineland?
Lot 49 then V then GR. AtD and M&D are fantastic as well. BE is meandering and a bit wonky, but still enjoyable enough. IV and Vineland are fun little adventures. Slow Learner is brilliant if you're either a writer or a Pynchon obsessed loon that keeps a yo-yo collection on your bookshelf.
V. is more worthwhile to read than Lot 49, V. is essentially the outline for GR/M&D/ATD and it is quite interesting to see how he developed and evolved the ideas of V. through them. Lot 49 is kind of a fun story but offers little to chew on, it is largely a regression for Pynchon as an author and Oedipa's story is pretty much Stencil's ripped from context and depth, personal mystery leading to possible conspiracy.
So is Lot 49, V. at least has some depth to it and is more complex than simple exposition through plot. Being juvenilia is not a criticism on its own, just means it came before the author worked out their style in full.
You don't 'have' to read V if you're going to read GR, AtD, and M&D but there is a great deal of beauty in its sophomoric grasping at the tendrils that Pynchon would eventually weave into his later works.
Doesn't really matter, ATD is his most difficult by a long shot. There is something to be said for reading his big books in order, V. GR, M&D, then ATD, the latter 3 are a second attempt at V. and it is interesting to see how he developed it into nearly 3000 pages across three novels but it probably will not help you understand or anything.
V. probably is best first or skipped, it is a bit of a a mess and a prime example of why one should not be their own editor but it has a charm and a fantastic narrative voice. I am quite fond of it and I suspect I would hate it if I read it after ATD.
Against the Day isn't that difficult, its just huge. M&D and GR are waaay more difficult to sift through, whatchoo talking about.
This. When people talk about Pynchon Lite, they mean Against the Day
Delete this, Against the Day is one of his best. The only Pynchon Lite books are Inherent Vice (which was redeemed by the PTA movie) and Bleeding Edge.
The PTA movie was ASS
You are ASS
Why?
You are conflating reading with comprehension, sort of person who thinks it is just 4 novels mixed together.
What the frick are you talking about? Reading = comprehension you dolt.
Its obviously not four novels taped together, all the narratives tie into each other. Is this some ESL thing?
I would like to believe you are trolling, but given the state of IQfy these days I don't think you are.
AtD is a nice place to start. Just remember that is 4 novels scrambled into 1 and the fourth one (set in central europe) is not very good.
It is not 4 novels scrambled into one, that is just moronic and ignoring its structure.
Inherent Vice or Lot 49
Don't read IV before GR
M&D is my favorite because I do scientific field work in the wilderness of America
Been reading Pynch in order. About 100 pages left of GR. Should I take a break and read something else ?(confederacy of dunces and tender is the night just acquired) or should I continue on to Vineland?
Lot 49 then V then GR. AtD and M&D are fantastic as well. BE is meandering and a bit wonky, but still enjoyable enough. IV and Vineland are fun little adventures. Slow Learner is brilliant if you're either a writer or a Pynchon obsessed loon that keeps a yo-yo collection on your bookshelf.
You don't have to read V
V. is more worthwhile to read than Lot 49, V. is essentially the outline for GR/M&D/ATD and it is quite interesting to see how he developed and evolved the ideas of V. through them. Lot 49 is kind of a fun story but offers little to chew on, it is largely a regression for Pynchon as an author and Oedipa's story is pretty much Stencil's ripped from context and depth, personal mystery leading to possible conspiracy.
V. is juvenilia
So is Lot 49, V. at least has some depth to it and is more complex than simple exposition through plot. Being juvenilia is not a criticism on its own, just means it came before the author worked out their style in full.
No
>V. is essentially the outline for GR/M&D/ATD
Well shit, never noticed that.
GR - Stencil
M&D - Profane & Bodine
ATD - The Whole Sick Crew
Now I have to go reread some 3000 pages worth of Pynchon.
You don't 'have' to read V if you're going to read GR, AtD, and M&D but there is a great deal of beauty in its sophomoric grasping at the tendrils that Pynchon would eventually weave into his later works.
You don't have to read V. before GR
>Start with the Frying of Latke 49;
>Start with vegana;
Black folk, I started with Son & Xon.