Top 5 Thomas Pynchon Novels

[@patriciah8579]

It can be mind-boggling coming to Pynchon cold. Good that you guys are doing a group read to help any novices that want to take the plunge. Hopefully you can track down the film version of Inherent Vice (maybe borrow the dvd from the library?). I’ve watched it multiple times. It’s weird and charming, and I love the seventies LA surfer vibe. There’s voice-over narration (by singer-songwriter Joanna Newsom) that gives it a special Pynchon-y essence. 🌴

[@bighardbooks770]

@@patriciah8579 Thanks, Patricia ☺ IMA look for the movie 🎦

[@BryanM.R.-prionic1]

Enjoyed your list/commentary. I haven't read much Pynchon yet, but oddly enough, "V" is one that I have read. 😁 I'm not quite ready for a re-read though -- especially since there's a rhinoplasty description in there that made me walk around with my nose scrunched up for a week or two. 😂 Have you read anything by Richard Powers? I've sometimes heard him compared to Pynchon, and I really liked his "The Gold Bug Variations."

[@bighardbooks770]

@@BryanM.R.-prionic1 I havent read Powers, yet. And, I'm planning on having sinus surgery next year! Thanks, Bryan 💯

[@TangibleReads]

That shirt has been through some stuff. Pynchon is a mixed bag. I have never heard of him

[@bighardbooks770]

@@TangibleReads Ha! Thanks, Courtney ☺ A lot of people havent heard nor read Pynchon. I'd like to change that. 📚

[@TangibleReads]

@@bighardbooks770 mention enough and people catch on

[@RaynorReadsStuff]

I’d never heard of Thomas Pynchon before you suggested this group read and I was a little daunted, when the book arrived, to see how huge it was 😂. I’m really enjoying the read so far, love the character names (trying to keep up with the enormous cast) and the humour. Am finding it quite madcap so far 😊

[@bighardbooks770]

@@RaynorReadsStuff It's his longest novel, and it is "daunting," but I'm so glad you're enjoying it, Debs! ☺

[@unstopitable]

I got deep into Gravity's Rainbow, but for some reason, on heart-level, let's say, I really enjoyed Vineland. I found it to be a lot more accessible. I really liked Zoyd, and I found his interactions with his family to be touching. Gravity's Rainbow, though, is a different animal, to me at least. Cheers.

[@bighardbooks770]

@@unstopitable I agree! Thanks for the comments. Appreciated 🌈

[@AdamSavageland]

V.'s got a heavy Kerouac/Burroughs influence, you'd probably like it! Slow Learner is interesting only to see his development (and the introduction he wrote), nothing spectacular. I realize that Pynchon is like Joyce because he's like learning a language. Familiarity makes him manageable!

[@bighardbooks770]

@@AdamSavageland IMA read _V_ this year. You're right: sounds like I'll love it. Thanks, Adam 💯

[@anotherbibliophilereads]

I have read V. but not Slow Learner, Mason and Dixion, and Bleeding Edge.

[@bighardbooks770]

@@anotherbibliophilereads You've read all the great ones ... 📚

[@Barklord]

I'm still disappointed that I don't enjoy reading Pynchon. I've read CoL49, Inherent Vice, and Bleeding Edge, but I'm left flat. I recently finished reading A Confederacy of Dunces. I enjoyed that for the lolz and sadness and generally love absurdist satire like Kafka, Gogol, Swift, Erasmus, Sterne, and Lucian, so it bothers me that I can't crack the Pynchon code/nut.

[@bighardbooks770]

@@Barklord 🤔 IDK! I adore _Confederacy of Dunces!_ Thanks for the comments 🎉