Subject: Re: Pynchon
From: Lisa M. Rabey (lisar@net-link.net)
Date: Tue Jun 03 1997 - 13:27:19 GMT
At 12:00 PM 6/3/97 -0500, you wrote:
>> Pynchon, too, is great for posing with ...
>> perfect for women who spend their whole day
>> draped languidly over a chair at the Museum of
>> Modern Art's cafe with a book perched on their
>> knees."
>
>Mason & Dixon isn't on my "must buy" list or anything, but isn't it
>possible, just slightly possible, that people are actually reading the book
>because they want to read something interesting? I know people buy things
>that are in vogue, but do they out number the people who are actually...
>oh, I don't know...SMART? What a condescending article. I propose that
>from here on out, we don't actually discuss Salinger's work, but instead we
>talk about whether or not Salinger's dust jackets clash with our brief
>cases. And just to sound smart (because there are no REALLY smart people
>in America that read) we could doctor up our posts with a lot of faux Buddy
>Glass-like lingo.
>
>It'd be one helluva interesting list for chrissakes, buddy.
>
>Sheesh...
>
>Feeling a little pissy, now.
>
>Dave
>
Dave I agree with you 100% on the matter. I remember reading sometime ago
about an actress during a print interview claimed that some of her favorite
books included CITHR. She also listed some literary books (including some
russians). This was probably about 5 years ago and I forget who the hell
the actress was. Sometime later i saw a television interview with said
actress and she couldn't string two words together.
Amusing?
Very.
What I have noticed is that many people who say they read particulary
authors, do so on the basis that they generate looks like 'wow! you are
smart! you read such and such!'. I guess a case in point was when I was 15
and a guy I was dating at thetime was reading Eco's "Name of the Rose" for
his ap english class in highschool. Intrigued by the book, I went out and
bought it myself and read it, and ended up falling in love with Eco's work.
For a few years after that, when people would ask me what one of my
favorite books was, and I would mention that title, they "seem" impressed
by the fact that i had tackled that book at a young age. Whatever. To me a
book is a book is a book. If it is interesting enough for me to purchase
it, then I do so.
Many writers over the last few years I have picked up (Bukowski, Brautigan,
Shelby) were do soley to the basis of either finding the author's books in
bookstores or on recommendation from a friend who had picked up a specific
book, and knowing my tastes, reccomend the book to me. Majority of the
time, I am completely ignorant of the fact if the author is "en vogue" or
not. Nor do I care. My main objective when I read is to read for pleasure,
my pleasure, not social stance.
And as for Pynchon. Ive seen "mason & dixon" at various bookstores, and it
looks "too big" to read while sititng on the subway or while lounging
around. A book that requires a harness to carry does not require my attention.
ttfn.
lisa
--Lisa M. Rabey Computer Consultant UIN: 1231211 ************************************************************ words...1000's of words.. wrapped together like wire how easy it would be to hate you and yet that is all i can show you -me
http://the.art.of.sekurity.org/simunye mirror-> http://www.interlog.com/~lisa
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