Has anyone here read Gravity's Rainbow?

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow," highlighting its complexity and the challenges it presents to readers. Participants share their experiences with the novel, noting its intricate allusions and the use of stream of consciousness as a literary technique. One user emphasizes the importance of a companion reader to navigate the dense material, while another critiques the book's perceived lack of substance. The conversation also touches on comparisons with David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" and James Joyce's works, underscoring the demanding nature of modernist literature.

PREREQUISITES
  • Familiarity with modernist literature concepts
  • Understanding of literary techniques such as stream of consciousness
  • Knowledge of Pynchon's thematic exploration of paranoia
  • Awareness of literary allusions and their significance
NEXT STEPS
  • Explore the use of stream of consciousness in literature, focusing on Pynchon's works
  • Research the historical context and themes of "Gravity's Rainbow"
  • Read companion guides or analyses of "Gravity's Rainbow" for deeper understanding
  • Investigate the literary techniques employed by James Joyce in his works
USEFUL FOR

Literary scholars, students of modernist literature, and avid readers seeking to deepen their understanding of complex narratives and thematic elements in works like "Gravity's Rainbow."

mkarger
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Read it first over the summer last year. Doing it again with a 400 page companion reader to point out all of the allusions.

The amount of information contained in this book is mind boggling. I could probably read it 10 times and only retain a fraction of what Pynchon recorded.
 
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Also thinking about getting a GR tattoo. Trying to figure out what I want.
 
mkarger said:
Read it first over the summer last year. Doing it again with a 400 page companion reader to point out all of the allusions.

The amount of information contained in this book is mind boggling. I could probably read it 10 times and only retain a fraction of what Pynchon recorded.

I gave up about half way through because it seemed to me like the literary version of shredding. Some guy with a great deal of technique and nothing to say. If you like that sort of game, fine. I thought the same of the more recent "Infinite Jest," so maybe you would like that too.
 
ImaLooser said:
I gave up about half way through because it seemed to me like the literary version of shredding. Some guy with a great deal of technique and nothing to say.

Hey now! Pynchon and DFW have a lot to say. It just takes more effort to get the meaning out of their works, not because their writing is particularly difficult or anything, but because of the complexity and intricacies of the ideas. I get that their writing is not for everyone, and to each his own in that regard, but that they have nothing to say is way too extreme.
 
Pynchon intentionally uses stream of consciousness in various parts of his writing. It is utilized quite often in GR. He also has an immense vocabulary and an almost encyclopedic understanding of historical events. When you put all of that together, you get some extremely difficult literature. I find the companion reader highly informative. Reading it a second time has also allowed me to overcome questions about basic plot sequences.

But none of what he writes is in anyway "meaningless."
 
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Also, one of the main themes in GR is paranoia;a symptom of mental illnesses like schizophrenia. A lot of the stream writing is suppose to induce the sense that you are going crazy. So he uses "pressured speech" and word salad techniques to get you there.
 
One last thing, if you think Pynchon is long winded and convoluted, don't ever read anything by James Joyce. Good lord. That man might actually have been crazy.
 
mkarger said:
One last thing, if you think Pynchon is long winded and convoluted, don't ever read anything by James Joyce. Good lord. That man might actually have been crazy.


Yeah, I tried that too and couldn't do it. Except for Dubliners, which I think is great.
 

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