(no subject)

[geekchick]

Because on the whole I've been entirely too serious lately:




take the WHAT BAD BOOK ARE YOU test.
and go to mewing.net. not as good as reading a good book, but way better than a bad one.


I haven't actually read this one, so I have no informed opinion on how bad it might or might not be.

Comments

[kmusser]

I think it's very good. It is weird, but definitely not incomprehensible. By far the most accessible of Thomas Pynchon's books. Recommended Discordian reading.

[firebirdgrrl.livejournal.com]

I loved it; I guess the quiz maker and I will have to disagree.

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

As long as you didn't come up as Infinite Jest!

[easy-living.livejournal.com]

That particular doorstop's been sitting on the bottom shelf of my bookshelves and gathering dust ever since I picked it up at a used bookstore several years ago. I'm guessing I should leave it there?

(BTW, I think this month's issue of Vanity Fair might interest you. I believe it hit the newsstands today.)

[nminusone.livejournal.com]

Personally I thought that book was a too-clever turd, albeit with some scorchingly hilarious moments and some interesting ideas. I usually say the book's title is surprisingly accurate: it does go on forever, and the joke's on you. There were long stretches of "oh my isn't he precious?" and "how long does this go on?" between the good bits.

To be fair I only read it at the urging of someone who thought it brilliant, so there is a range of opinion. Since then I've met 2 other people who've read it, one who agrees with me, and her friend, who loved it. So not much consensus there.

He is said to be a good writer, and I can see where he might be. If you're tempted I'd definitely try one of his other, much shorter, works. I may read one myself someday, if I can get the bad taste of tIJ out of my mouth.

If you want an experimental novel, I'd definitely read House of Leaves instead. It's very unsettling and very... unresolved. At first I wanted a neat ending with questions answered, which it very much does not have, but after a while I was ok with the lingering mystery. And even if you don't like it, it's much shorter than tIJ!

> (BTW, I think this month's issue of Vanity Fair might interest you. I believe it hit the newsstands today.)

Ok, I'll check it out.