Treefingers wrote:Vineland's definitely a grower -- more depth becomes apparent as you go through it, even though it initially seems to be a more simple, small-scale, flippant novel. Makes some really interesting points about the illusory nature of freedom in (mainly American, but I think that message is sadly becoming increasingly relevant to the UK, too, now) societies that pride themselves on being free.
I need to re-read Crying...: it's short, but I'd still say it's quite difficult and cryptic. It's basically condensed insanity, and I admittedly can sort of see where Pynchon's coming from when he criticises it for seeming rushed.
I'd love to read Against the Day. It looks like I'd need to get in the same zone as I was in reading Gravity's Rainbow (I wrote my undergrad dissertation on it and have still got a massive list of notes stored, unacademically enough, in the 'memos' section of my phone), which could be quite fun, I admit.
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As for now reading, got started on The Sandman. I'm liking it a lot, even if some of the DC references can be kind of jarring -- but it's got a lot of what I liked about American Gods (and what I imagine becomes more present as the series gains its confidence): the imagination, the rich allusions, and the humour, etc.
Sounds interesting man, would like to read your dissertation if its available! I preferred Gravity's Rainbow but Against the Day was awesome. Would read both again for sure. Pynchon is such an interesting writer.
Never heard of The Sandman! let me know how it goes
Sagan: In order to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe.
Basinski: I wanted Cascade to become this crystalline organism like a star or a liquid crystal spaceship, a jellyfish traveling through the galaxy…
I could PM you it if I can find it, though it's probably not the most riveting read (though the opportunity to say "Porky Pig" and "Blodgett Waxwing" in an assessed piece of work (almost as fun as getting to write an essay about The Simpsons - I loved third year) made me quite joyous).
Totally looking into getting Mason and Dixon, too -- and looking at what little info there is about The Bleeding Edge (apparently it's set around the end of the dot-com boom and 9/11. I'd be very interested to see very contemporary events put through the Pynchon filter).
Part-way through Mason and Dixon, which I'm very much enjoying.
I think I've got a long while of reading left, as like with any Pynchon, bits that are a joy to read are coupled with bits that you have to be totally in the right mental space to read, as to not get frustrated and brainfused.
So far, the description the time spent at St. Helena has been the highlight. One of those instances where the words just immediately translate visually in your head, without having to actively think about it so much. The sort of place I'll have a sort of memory of when I finish reading (Murakami tends to be very good for this).
I'm on Guermantes Way from In Search of Lost Time and I feel kind of stuck. The narrator is really starting to drive me nuts with his fickleness. It's so beautifully written though that I'd like to finish the whole thing, but I put it down for awhile and reread Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins and then American Gods again, which in turn made me want to read all of the Sandman again.
I saw someone mention Infinite Jest. That's my favorite book ever ever ever. I still haven't read The Pale King, kind of holding off on that knowing it's the last book he'll ever write I love all his other stuff, fiction and non-fiction.
Has anyone here read any Dave Eggers? I'm thinking of some books to add to the to-get list for when I'm finished with M&D, and I'm quite intrigued by You Shall Know Our Velocity.
I'm reading Flatland now, and it's making me want to revisit Godel, Escher, Bach: An Infinite Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstatder. It's a pretty cool. Description from wikipedia:
By exploring common themes in the lives and works of logician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher and composer Johann Sebastian Bach, GEB (as the book is also known) expounds concepts fundamental to mathematics, symmetry, and intelligence. Through illustration and analysis, the book discusses how self-reference and formal rules allow systems to acquire meaning despite being made of "meaningless" elements. It also discusses what it means to communicate, how knowledge can be represented and stored, the methods and limitations of symbolic representation, and even the fundamental notion of "meaning" itself.
It's a lot more approachable than it sounds, I swear. [/i]
rainier wrote:I'm reading Flatland now, and it's making me want to revisit Godel, Escher, Bach: An Infinite Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstatder. It's a pretty cool. Description from wikipedia:
By exploring common themes in the lives and works of logician Kurt Gödel, artist M. C. Escher and composer Johann Sebastian Bach, GEB (as the book is also known) expounds concepts fundamental to mathematics, symmetry, and intelligence. Through illustration and analysis, the book discusses how self-reference and formal rules allow systems to acquire meaning despite being made of "meaningless" elements. It also discusses what it means to communicate, how knowledge can be represented and stored, the methods and limitations of symbolic representation, and even the fundamental notion of "meaning" itself.
It's a lot more approachable than it sounds, I swear. [/i]
Huh. As I was saying, I definitely stand behind you on the 'An Eternal Golden Braid' recommendation. No regrets reading that.
I just finished the first sci-fi book I've read in a very long time, Kim Stanley Robinson's 2312. Not everyone loves the plot but there are some really cool ideas in it. I need to finish King's latest Dark Tower story next and move on to a stack of Haruki Murakami books I've been neglecting. Everyone recommends him to me. David Sedaris' stories are also good and there's a new collection out too.
Which dark tower book are you on or are you reading the comic? I love those books. Haruki Marukami is great. I think there's a different translation out of the Wind-Up Bird Chronicle than the one I read and I want to pick that up.
Huh. As I was saying, I definitely stand behind you on the 'An Eternal Golden Braid' recommendation. No regrets reading that.
I really love it. It puts words to thoughts I've had for awhile and it's like a lightbulb clicking on. I get so excited after reading certain parts I have to get up and pace and think about it for a few minutes. It also kind of sealed the deal on the golden rectangle tattoo I want to get.
Dance Dance Dance is the Murakami I liked best, but I wonder whether I'd still recommend it. I remember rereading A Wild Sheep Chase and being disappointed, although for some reason his books are usually pleasant to read and hard to put down. I reread Wind-Up Bird as well but I don't remember it too well - I remember liking Hakasaka's letters from the factory and the end being kind of abrupt and not too well resolved...
I also remember his talk about the violence of 68 in Norwegian Wood being extremely patronising and cynical, as touching as the sadness and sense of loss derived from his banal position might be. Though I did like the book. I read it in just one single night, sitting on the toilet no less (just felt right).
I find that, even though there tend to be many similarities between his novels, Haruki Murakami is just generally enjoyable to read (particularly when feeling a bit lonely or down).
I love how he develops that brilliant atmosphere through what is quite an accessible writing style, some images from places in his novels (best example for me, I think: the Hokkaido bits in A Wild Sheep Chase) sort of feel like memories to me.
Despite many people finding it somewhat disappointing, I really like After Dark (due a re-read, though), which I always wankily describe as feeling like an 'ambient novel'. I really like how it's that Murakami tone, but in a more hushed and low-key context that sets it apart really interestingly from his other work.
Looking forward to his next novel being translated into English. That one sounds like it could be a bit in that low-key vein, which I personally would love to see him explore a bit more.
It's The Wind Through The Keyhole. It is a great series, and I think the story within story books are my favourites. I haven't revisited it since it finished, but those comics look interesting. The Murakami at the top of my stack are Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and 1Q84.
I liked the Wind Through the Keyhole a lot. I thought it was a great fairy tale. Maybe waiting all those years for Wolves of the Calla to come out made it easier for me to wait so long for new boc. I can't believe it was only 6 years between that and Wizard and Glass, it felt like forever.
Just finished Harmony Korine's A Crack Up At the Race Riots which was good fun and on the last 3rd of Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut, which is excellent as you'd expect from Kurt.
I love all his other stuff, fiction and non-fiction. 
