/lit/ - Literature

How far into the book have you been able to get through?

Sorry OP but I don't think you're gonna get any help with this one. I read it last summer and I still don't understand most of it. But my suggestion to you is to not attempt to decipher a coherent plot or narrative or structure to it. The best thing to do is just read along with it and appreciate the ride it takes you on. The way that Pynchon puts the words together is beautiful and complex, like fractal patterns. The best way to appreciate it is to simply go with the flow and recognized the enormous difficulty it takes a person to write a novel like this. Also, "They are in love. Fuck the war."

I haven't started due to apathy, why start something I can't finish? Should I start? and I have the same question as OP.

Start with one of his "easier" books, like Crying or V.

there is this part where this guy eats shit.
there is also this part where this guy in a pig costume is being chased.
there is this part where this immortal light-bulb dreams about conquering the world.
there is this part where an orgy breaks out on a cruise-liner.
there is this part where an trained octopus attacks a girl.
there is this part where this guy throws pies at a fighter plane wile in a balloon.
there is this part where this kid is looking for his pet lemming
there is thing about rockets being made with materials that make people horny.
there is this thing about how rockets can be used to destroy mankind or take them to space
boners!

>>2606617
>Can anyone help make it start to click for me?
No, but
<<this is a cool book.
Also: http://gravitys-rainbow.pynchonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page
GR was sort of made for the internet generation in mind.

>>2606630
It's just a book. Read it if you want. Or read other stuff.

>>2606639
Forgot...oh >>2606637
there it is.

Slothrop gets boners whenever rockets are launched. All you need to know.

>>2606630
I'm this guy

>>2606645
So do I, I'm going to download this now. I have a huge rocket boner left over from when the space shuttle flew over New York City.

>>2606639
To me, if it's just a book it's probably not a very good book.

>>2606654
I'm not a huge Pynchon fan.
GR was just a book to me.
Maybe it will be something more to you.

>>2606629 = Me

My advice:
Pynchon's style seems daunting at first, but after the first section of the book it becomes clearer, easier to navigate, and a bit more fun (as the plot rapidly develops).
A few points would be
1) Don't be afraid of rereading sections. You will have to do this because Pynchon digresses into so much technobabble/ historical detail that you'll get lost. It's ok. Understanding the plot development is obviously very important and becomes much easier when you read over and separate past from present in the novel.
2) Make a list of allusions you don't recognize or understand and look them up. Context is very important in this novel and will be key to understanding the damn thing. Pynchon is going to throw a ton of shit at you that you will have no idea even happened before reading this book, so have the internet handy.
3) Enjoy it. Don't go into it thinking its impossible because it isn't. Underneath all of the complexity is a thrilling story and perhaps one of the funniest books I have ever read (Watt is a close second). Make the understanding of the allusions and details part of unlocking the mystery of the book. You will become Slothrop.

I hope this helps. I read it last summer without any prior Pynchon experiences and it took me only two weeks because I went about the book this way. Reading and understanding the fraction of this book that can be understood by plebs (i.e. anyone who isn't Pynchon) was one of the most rewarding and enjoyable literary experinces I've had. Best of luck to you OP.

Op, I've tried 4 times. Each time I've got past 100 pages. The furthest I have got is around 230 pages.

My advise is, there are many, many great books out there. If you can't get into it, read something else. I've read The crying of lot 49 and V.

Make sure you're reading every word and understand what is going on, don't skim over words or paragraphs. Keep your mind focused on the text at all times, if you let your mind drift away you will get instantly lost in pynchons words.

If you do this and still don't enjoy it, put it down and go read something else. Try reading The Count of Monte Cristo.

I doubt I willl ever come back to Gravity, I've spent far too much time on it but I've learned many lessons from my failure and there were some enjoyable parts, also Pynchon is extremly good at writing, I just wish his plots were more interesting and he wrote more colorfully. I imagine he could be the most amazing magical realism type writer ever, if he had ever tried writing one book in that sought of genre.

>>2606632
does anyone have a good download link for V? I do not have an e-reader. Also its not at my local library. It looks interesting as hell though.

>>2606732
Surely your library does order in's, which is order books from any other library in your state.