HEY, who gave YOU dibs on Pynchon, eh? :) I agree with the recommendation. Either The Cryihg of Lot 49, or Vineland. Being from Southern CA I'm biased toward that particular novel, of course :) But I'd still read Crying first. There's a strip poker scene that'll make you laugh so hard you'll pee your panties :) Jim On Mon, 10 Aug 1998 14:42:16 -0400 "D." <darjr@shore.net> writes: >At 01:37 PM 8/10/98 -0400, you wrote: >>Okay, okay, I've read heard Pynchon referred to so many times on this >list >>that I've resolved to try and read some of his work. I took a look at >Mason & >>Dixon at the local Barnes and Nobles and thought it looked a little >too >>daunting for an introduction. Does anyone have any recommendations as >to what >>I should read first? >> > > Ok, ok, being the resident Pyn-head on this list, I'll do the >honors >8-). MY suggestion would be to start with "The Crying of Lot 49". >Being >relatively short, 183 pages, it contains a good cross section of >Pynchon's >themes, idea, and writing style. Also, next to "Mason & Dixon", CL49 >has >some semblence of a "linear narrative". After CL49, I'd say go with >whichever other Pynchon title catches your eye. I was ambitious and >went >straight at "Gravity's Rainbow" second and had a good experience. >"Mason & >Dixon" is very wonderfully lyrical novel, not to mention it's written >in >18th century English (complete with random capitalizations and >apostrophes), so it takes some getting used to the style. One of the >joys >of Pynchon, to me, is that all 5 of his novels have a different >writing >style. M&D represents, perhaps, the most imaginative style of his to >date. > I liked M&D quite a bit--it is certainly a novel of a more mature >Pynchon, >and maybe an artistic rival to GR. Let me know if you like CL49 or >not. > > > >Cheers! > > D. > > _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]