Reading List Completists discussion
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The Crying of Lot 49
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The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon
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by
Matthew, Assistant List Master
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rated it 3 stars
Sep 28, 2015 10:43AM
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Flipped through this a little at Barnes and Noble. Looking forward to finally reading some Pynchon.
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I'm gonna have to inter library loan this one. Ahhhhhh
I'm currently on hold for the ebook version of it.
I'm about to take a trip to the library to go pick this one up.
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Matthew, I'm hoping you're referring to The Enchanted.
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I am indeed - very astute sleuthing, Justin! :)
I got the ebook, which I'm not thrilled about, but I'll be reading along.
My epub came in. I'm going to start on it tonight. :)
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Is it just me? Does anyone else seem to think those are mighty long sentences? Lots of commas. I mean, those commas and more commas, with more commas, and then some.
I didn't look at any reviews, so I had no idea what to expect, but I'm definitely finding it unusual, too. Satires are very hit or miss for me lol.
For real, so many commas!
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I'm at the part with the description of the play. I'll push through now that I know that it's at least kind of relevant lol.
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I don't usually mind satires, but when they cross over into something that's attempting to be art for the sake of art (and possibly turn into the clusterf*** that this book did), not to mention the ending (also done for the sake of just being able to do it, I feel), I want to throw the book in a dumpster and never look at it again. I don't know what I was expecting when I started the book, but the intellectual walk-arounds I got wasn't it.
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I've never read any of his other books, so I didn't have any expectations there, either. It does make sense that it came when he was between books randomly, though. It seems very random, like he had something on his mind and he just couldn't get it out, so he decided to do some unconscious writing and then just ran with it and got it published.
As a confessed huge fan of Pynchon (lot 49 being my 5th read of his in a year) it's interesting to hear the comments. I am only 30 pages in, but loving it.
This is waiting for me at the library I think. I'm curious to see how it goes. I honestly know nothing about it, but I know the author.
I don't think Pynchon has it in him to write a bad book. The 5 I've read have all been brilliant.
Just read Matthew's review, and this sounds pretty wild.
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I have been down with the stomach flu as has my whole family so I have some catching up to do. However, I am more used to Pynchon's style so I am loving it so far
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Gah! Stupid new phone
message 33:
by
Matthew, Assistant List Master
(last edited Oct 14, 2015 12:55PM)
(new)
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rated it 3 stars
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We can just delete all those - however, a weird occurrence like this is fitting for this particular book.
Just finished the first chapter. While the story is a bit odd, it's very readable and interesting so far. I also have a very old, rugged hardback library copy with faded yellowish pages. Somehow that enhances the experience....
Lucky you. I'm reading the ebook which isn't as fun. 45 pages in this is wildly entertaining and pretty much as "straight" as Pynchon gets.
Lucky you. I'm reading the ebook which isn't as fun. 45 pages in this is wildly entertaining and pretty much as "straight" as Pynchon gets.
I've now read the first two chapters. I don't think Strip Botticelli is a great pickup line, but that was a very entertaining scene.
The more I read this the more I love it....thinking about getting a muted horn tattoo...but again, I'm a Pynchon fanboy. I guess it's the depth of the narrative that he works. I mean it's incredible to be reading such a short book with its verbosity and yet I feel like a bunch of ground has been covered
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Just finished and loved it
I read this last year and also trying to be active in groups again (life has been pretty busy). Might I ask what you did like about the book and what you took away from it? My experience was like a minion trying to learn politics. I was so lost. I wanted to like it because Pynchon is someone I've always wanted to read.
This was my first Pynchon experience and it left me feeling like I was too dumb to get something. When books do that I typically get frustrated and i did with this one....a lot.
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Might I ask what you did like about the book and what you took away from it? My experience was like..."
I will have to defer to TheLongWait, but I don't think I have seen him on in a while.
I have been around, just not commenting. I think u have to look at the book as fun, but biting. It moves so fast that sometimes u have to break from it and breathe and say "wtf?" But I don't think it's a boom that you necessarily have to "get" to enjoy. Specifically, what didn't you like?
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Ah, being super sneaky! :)
Sorry...but I'm here :-)
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Nope - no worries - whether you are quiet or chatty is up to you. I just enjoy our conversations when we have them. You definitely helped me appreciate Infinite Jest and The Crying of Lot 49 more than I would have on my own.
I don't know that I didn't enjoy it. There were moments that were entertaining. I just felt as if I missed something that a good chunk of people I've talked (on here and irl) to did get. As if Pynchon was genius for writing it. Apparently some layers I missed there. I took the book completely at Face value. Maybe I'm just searching more for a what was it that people took away from it? At least those who enjoyed it. Thanks for responding by the way.
