Paperback, 160 pages
English language
Published April 1, 1999 by Harper Perennial Modern Classics.
Tl:Dr - Gonna be honest, I still not super clear about what this book was about and I think I need to read it again to really get it. Maybe this time with the Wikipedia page open. But the writing was great and very smooth and the wit that I was able to keep up with delicious!
The back cover says “comic talent” and “wild humour” but I didn’t get it. There was one hilarious seduction scene early on and the characters are quite amusing but I found the most of it rather dull.
The writing reminded me of the Ipcress File which I read earlier in the year and they were published 4 years apart n the 1960s so this post modern splurge of multi page paragraphs was obviously the thing back then. Now it reads like a NANOWRIMO project someone would churn out in one month.
The worst parts are the endless information dumps about the Courier’s Tragedy. I only finished it because it was mercifully short and I don’t think I’ll be trying any more Pynchon.
I seem to recall enjoying vineland more, but this was still amazing.
