You got fired, and you still hang around here like a big loser. Why can't he?

Cordelia ,'Chosen'


Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.

There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."


Hayden - Aug 02, 2006 7:46:03 am PDT #1098 of 28131
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

what the hell is the point of The Crying of Lot 49 ?

Short answer is: It's about confusion and powerlessness in consumer culture. Most of the characters are seeking answers, but the answers they seek aren't easy ones, and they're probably looking in the wrong place, anyway.

The long answer might take a while.


Polter-Cow - Aug 02, 2006 7:48:07 am PDT #1099 of 28131
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!

It's about confusion and powerlessness in consumer culture. Most of the characters are seeking answers, but the answers they seek aren't easy ones, and they're probably looking in the wrong place, anyway.

I...see. I was just looking for fun conspiracy nonsense.

The long answer might take a while.

Maybe I'll just stay stupid.


Hayden - Aug 02, 2006 7:59:07 am PDT #1100 of 28131
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

I was just looking for fun conspiracy nonsense.

There's always a lot of that in Pynchon's books, but he rarely clears it up because he's kind of a prankster.

There's a bunch of links about the book here: [link] This is fairly amusing: [link] Of course, you can always ask Wikipedia: [link]


Frankenbuddha - Aug 02, 2006 8:04:14 am PDT #1101 of 28131
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

There's always a lot of that in Pynchon's books, but he rarely clears it up because he's kind of a prankster.

Heh, I was just thinking about how LOT 49 is kind of like the DR. STRANGELOVE, except about "conspiracy" and even more po-faced.

The fact that he can't seem to resist funny/loaded names a la Terry Southern is one big tell that something funny is going on somewhere.


Hayden - Aug 02, 2006 8:12:02 am PDT #1102 of 28131
aka "The artist formerly known as Corwood Industries."

I was just cracking up reading the Wikipedia entry on TCOL49 because of the awesome names. For some reason, Dr. Hilarius being a Nazi scientist always seems over-broad in the context of the book, but it never fails to bring a smile to my face when I consider it elsewhere.


Sophia Brooks - Aug 02, 2006 8:12:37 am PDT #1103 of 28131
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here

horse who's name I'm forgetting that got sent to the glue factory.

His name was Boxer. Poor Boxer. In fact I am sitting here tearing a bit thinking of how poor, loyal Boxer was betrayed. I sobbed and sobbed when reading the book. I am not sure that Animal Farm is the sort of book that it supposed to evoke an emotional response, but it did.


Aims - Aug 02, 2006 8:16:08 am PDT #1104 of 28131
Shit's all sorts of different now.

I cry at any book that has bad things happen to animals.

looks at Watership Down wearily

In the name of being well-read. I'll just double up in my AD's.


Frankenbuddha - Aug 02, 2006 8:19:01 am PDT #1105 of 28131
"We are the Goon Squad and we're coming to town...Beep! Beep!" - David Bowie, "Fashion"

His name was Boxer.

Yes, thank you.

Poor Boxer.

Oh yes.

I am not sure that Animal Farm is the sort of book that it supposed to evoke an emotional response, but it did.

Me too. I think Boxer's fate was supposed get an emotional response, though.


Sophia Brooks - Aug 02, 2006 8:22:14 am PDT #1106 of 28131
Cats to become a rabbit should gather immediately now here

Thinking critically about Animal Farm....

I think that George Orwell's writing philosophy was like Brecht's-- to incite action rather than emotion. I just find Brecht's (and Orwell's) works to be emotionally moving. I think it may just be a reaction to the melodrama that same before them, though.

I also am just guessing about orwell's motives, as I know little to nothing about him.


Beverly - Aug 02, 2006 8:33:39 am PDT #1107 of 28131
Days shrink and grow cold, sunlight through leaves is my song. Winter is long.

Okay, I've never read Animal Farm and now I ain't gonna. 1984, though, and scads of 50s-70s scifi, so I'm all countercultured up.