djerdap
Rock n' Roll Doggie ALL ACCESS
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2004
- Messages
- 7,662
First though I'm finishing Vineland my first Pynchon. I like the way it moves, he's a fantastic writer, creative and blah blah blah my biggest problem is that it isn't nearly as funny as it's trying to be. There are fucking hundreds of jokes in here, from actual jokes, to word play to sly comedic descriptions and so on, and maybe one out of every 10 lands. Haven't laughed out loud once yet, but usually it's completely inoffensive. There are a few moments though where I just want to be like ugh fuck you, which stop me in my tracks, but whatever. Compared to Infinite Jest, which I'm not sure I actually like more as a novel... well, at least that one is fucking hilarious.
If you scroll a couple of pages back, you'll find my thoughts mirroring yours regarding Pynchon. I'm reading Gravity's Rainbow though. The humor is so infantile at times - I realise Pynchon is a film fan and my impression is that some chapters attempt to convey the slapstick humor of Keaton and Chaplin, but a lot of it is ridiculous and cartoonish and does not apply to the book format too well. Plus I was never that big on the kind of humor that is supposed to be silly and stupid - the songs being the primary example of this.
However, I don't know if it's me being more in sync with his style, or the humor just getting better, but I do find myself laughing out loud more at some of the uniquely absurd and preposterous situations Pynchon comes up with. When he just lets his (drug-induced) imagination roll and does not rely on crappy jokes, the humor feels more natural and charming. I'm two thirds into the novel and I'm finally getting really excited to get back to it.
The writing is perversely brilliant, the themes and metaphors are fascinating and yes, it is getting more entertaining and funny. But I still feel much more connected with DFW's writing, since I've read Infinite Jest before this and found it far more compelling and the humor being so superior it's not even funny (heh).