Difference between revisions of "The Crying of Lot 49 Obs"
(→Novel vs. Story) |
|||
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
This seems to be the place to note something Pynchon | This seems to be the place to note something Pynchon | ||
| − | has written | + | has written — in ''Slow Learner'', the introduction — about this work. |
He wrote there, in talking about his early stories that his next story | He wrote there, in talking about his early stories that his next story | ||
''The Crying of Lot 49'' was marketed as a novel....<br> | ''The Crying of Lot 49'' was marketed as a novel....<br> | ||
Given Pynchon's care with concepts, this distinction seems worth | Given Pynchon's care with concepts, this distinction seems worth | ||
| − | keeping in mind. Stories meant, usually, to be taken in | + | keeping in mind. Stories meant, usually, to be taken in "all at once", |
in one reading, novels not. Stories much more focussed on a single theme usually; novels full of many themes. | in one reading, novels not. Stories much more focussed on a single theme usually; novels full of many themes. | ||
| Line 13: | Line 13: | ||
most thoroughly. Boundaries such as those between story and novel. | most thoroughly. Boundaries such as those between story and novel. | ||
| − | As a "story" to get a kind of unitary impression, is how I have seen Harold Bloom's remark on reading ''The Crying of Lot 49''. Read it again immediately, he avers. | + | As a "story" to get a kind of unitary impression, is how I have seen Harold Bloom's remark on reading ''The Crying of Lot 49''. Read it again immediately, he avers. Its meaning(s) are very mysterious, we might all agree. |
Revision as of 10:07, 18 March 2007
Novel vs. Story
This seems to be the place to note something Pynchon
has written — in Slow Learner, the introduction — about this work.
He wrote there, in talking about his early stories that his next story
The Crying of Lot 49 was marketed as a novel....
Given Pynchon's care with concepts, this distinction seems worth keeping in mind. Stories meant, usually, to be taken in "all at once", in one reading, novels not. Stories much more focussed on a single theme usually; novels full of many themes.
Pynchon's words have made me think about his lifelong theme of crossing boundaries, of seeing boundaries as artificial, man-made — Mason & Dixon, most thoroughly. Boundaries such as those between story and novel.
As a "story" to get a kind of unitary impression, is how I have seen Harold Bloom's remark on reading The Crying of Lot 49. Read it again immediately, he avers. Its meaning(s) are very mysterious, we might all agree.
