The Crying of Lot 49

I have to say, I loved this book. (Ok it took me more than a day to post this... sorry). Thomas Pynchon creates a marvelously circular story about Oedipa Maas discovering herself. In that sense, its fairly basic. Alas, that is the only sense in which it is basic. The rest of the book is this lovely tangled mess of a will, a secret society, and American culture (or Californian culture at least).

The book, in my opinion, is ultimately very circular. It ends very near the beginning, in concept at least. The story chronicles Mrs. Oedipa Maas when she becomes the executor of Mr. Pierce Inverarity's estate. Its really not about that though, but a journey of discovery. Mrs. Maas seemingly discovers evidence of a secret society in the process of dealing with the estate. This leads her on a mission to unravel, or unveil the secret society, should it exist.

I won't tell you if it does or doesn't, that is a question that the reader must ultimately answer for themselves. Conceptually, the novel is ripe with sundry literary allusions. Take Oedipa Mass for example, Oedipa -- it certainly has suggestions in the name. Her husband's, Mucho Maas (for those of you who don't know any Spanish, Much More), name is similarly rife with meaning.

A warning, Mr. Pynchon has a reputation for difficult prose. The first ten pages of the book prove this undoubtedly. It will take you a while to get used to his writing style, personally, I'd say its somewhere between stream of conscious and normal prose. Or, I suppose it would be stream of conscious writing if you could do that in third person. Once you've adjusted to it, its fine, but it does take a little bit.

Other thoughts, I will just reiterate I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also think it is just as relevant, possibly more so, today than it was when originally published. Its a bit weird in places, but I like weird so that wasn't a problem for me. Its also very non-linear. Still, I enjoyed it immensely and I hope you do as well, should you choose to read it.

If you like read:

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

Essay: The Crying of Lot 49

I wrote this essay for class, I'll be posting another with more general thoughts about the book sometime later today or tomorrow:

The writer and the reader rely on each other. The reader requires a certain amount of clarity in order to understand the work. The more difficult a story, the more work required of the reader. Occasionally, a writer will present similar difficulties to characters within their story. Such is the case with Thomas Pynchon’s The Crying of Lot 49. Mrs. Oedipa Maas, Pynchon’s main character, struggles through the quagmire of Peirce Inverarity’s estate. As she struggles through, she seemingly discovers a secret society in operation throughout the United States and possibly the world; the story revolves around her gradual exploration of this secret society. Oedipa and the reader must struggle through the confusion and complications created by Thomas Pynchon together.

The reader enters into the world of Crying of Lot 49 when Oedipa discovers she has been named executor of Peirce’s Will. Oedipa, surprised by this, ponders her history with Peirce, and recalls a late night phone call; she wonders “had Peirce called last year then to tell her about the codicil?” (3). Eventually, she recalls a painting by Remedios Varo in which “frail girls with heart shaped faces” attempt, hopelessly, to fill “a void” with a tapestry (11). In theory, the reader should make a connection between the void from this painting, and the emptiness Oedipa feels at the end of the novel; which she attempts to fill with The Tristero, a secret postal society. Similarly, Oedipa herself is forced to make several connections throughout the novel itself, the symbol of a muted post horn to the society for example.

Perhaps the most complex connection Pynchon requires of Oedipa is between “The Courier’s Tragedy” and the events within the novel itself. Some of the connections she makes are simple, such as the soldiers’ corpses in Peirce’s housing development and the Lost Guard’s corpses in the river; the bones of which are used in cigarette filter or to create ink. A specific line from “The Courier’s Tragedy”, “No hallowed skein of stars can ward, I Trow/Who’s once been set his tryst with Trystero”, ultimately leads Oedipa to the discovery of Tristero, be it imagined or real (124). She only hears this line when she actually witnesses the play; the written copy she finds has a different version in it. However, after a significant amount of searching, she finds the source of the original version, and hence discovers Tristero. The reader is led along this path in a similar manner, but instead of discovering the possible existence of a secret society the reader is required to develop other connections.

Throughout the story Pynchon requires nearly as much of the reader as he does of Oedipa. For example, the scene in San Francisco where the old sailor requests that Oedipa deliver a letter to his estranged wife develops the loneliness and nigh hopelessness of her quest. Ultimately, the greatest challenge presented by Pynchon, faced by both Oedipa and the reader simultaneously, is Tristero. The reader and Oedipa, by gradually discovering its existence, or nonexistence as the case may be, are faced with the question of what exactly it means. Pynchon creates this problem with the possibility of its nonexistence; Oedipa has either discovered the existence of Tristero or she “[is] fantasizing some such plot, in which case [she is] a nut, Oedipa, out of [her] mind” (141). Oedipa has the luxury of existing within the novel, and thus can discover who the bidder is at the end; the reader does not. The reader goes back to the beginning, to the painting by Remedios Varo, to the women attempting to fill a void with an embroidered tapestry.

The Crying of Lot 49 exists as a writerly book, written for a reader willing to do significant work in order to understand. The reader, in this case, will not be alone though, as Mrs. Oedipa Mass has a significant amount of work to do and in rare occasion helps the reader come to understanding. Still, ultimately the book is left in the reader’s hands, with an ending that leaves us wondering about the existence of Tristero, and what exactly it means should it exist.

The Dream Hunters

I just finished rereading this and I must say, I don't know who deserves more credit, Neil Gaiman or Yoshitaka Amano. This illustrated novella is a fast, simple, and enjoyable read. The artwork is unquestionably stunning. The theme is simple. As love stories go, its touching. All praise aside, Neil Gaiman retells an ancient Japanese folk tale, "The Fox, the Monk, and the Mikado of All Night's Dreaming." I have never read the original version of this story, so alas, I can't make any claim to the verity Gaiman's version has to the original. Still, it acts as a lovely hybrid of western and eastern thought.

Plot wise, it is the story of a fox and a monk. The fox falls in love with the monk, and likewise the monk falls in love with the fox. When she learns of the Monk's impending death, she travels to the King of All Night's Dreaming to save him. Thus unfolds a story in which "lessons were learned" and "events occurred as it was proper for them to do." Those of you familiar with the rest of the Sandman Series will find much familiar territory, character, plot, and setting wise. According to Gaiman, most of it was in the originally story, and did not need to be added.

The illustrations. Where do I begin? Mr. Amano illustrates the story as we move through it with absolutely stunning visuals. Simply look at the cover page, it is but a sampling of the stories contents. The illustrations follow the story, and add an unbelievable depth to the story not conveyed by Gaiman's writing. The prose is very simple after all, and would leave much to the imagination if not for the illustrations. Most of the illustrations, they can be found on every page, fill a single page, however a few fill two pages, and at one point a fold out unveils a four page painting of none other than the Sandman himself. I doubt you will find much to complain of.

As much as I have enjoyed this story the several times I've read though it. A warning, it is a very light, quick read. Don't expect a masterful literary adventure (Gaiman has plenty of other stuff if that's what you're after), this is but a simple love story. In parts its humorous, parts exciting, and parts touchingly sad (it did bring tears to my eyes, though that isn't hard to do). I imagine you'll find it entirely touching, and delightfully enchanting throughout.

If you like read:
Star Dust - Neil Gaiman
The Little Mermaid - Hans Christian Anderson

The Book Thief

Where do I start with this book? Well, its told by Death. Yes, Death, the anthropomorphic personification, the grim reaper, et al, you get the picture. It is a novel about the Holocaust, but then its so much more than that. It is the story of Liesel Meminger, or the book thief. It is an absolute gem. I give you credit Markus Zusak, this is one of the most inspiring, touching, humbling, and ultimately best books I have ever read.

Liesel Meminger is a young girl, 9 at the start of the novel, living in Hitler's Germany. The book starts with her younger brother dieing and proceeds from there. Well, actually it starts with the end of the book, and how Death comes to know the book thief so well, but that isn't revealed until much later; don't worry I'm not ruining anything for you.

So, how is Liesel a book thief? Well she steals books obviously, but it isn't quite that simple, she tends to fall into them more than steal them. Her first book comes from her brother's graveside, and is possibly one of her most cherished possessions. It is the grave diggers handbook, and she starts learning to read from it. The rest are stolen from fire, or the governess mansion, I'll let you discover all the intricacies for yourself. It makes for a charming addition to her character.

Soon, she and her mother arrive in Munich where Liesel is given to a foster family; notably, an anti-fascist family. It is an older man and his wife, he smokes hand rolled cigarettes constantly, she is as hard and tender as water. They raise her. They also house a Jew. A great deal more happens, they fall into economic despair, she learns to read and to write, she finds a friend, one who demands a kiss. The story in and of itself is charming, but Zusak does far more with this narrative than simply tell a story.

For everyone who is obsessed with finding all the little meanings and nuances in a story, this is for you. He packs it full of imagery and submerged meanings. He also explains them to you in a brilliant manner. Apparently it was on the NY Times bestseller list for children, this is beyond me. I suppose its a children's book in the same way Huck Finn is. At any rate, Zusak points out many of his interwoven symbols, ie color and all that jazz, using his narrator. He doesn't point everything out of course, but a great deal. More importantly, he tells you where you should be looking.

Ultimately, the book is slightly self-reflexive, a book about someone who loves books... Still, the story is charming, the characters are dynamic, interesting, and heart touching. Its chock full of literary value, I don't know what else can be asked for. Oh yes, its terribly depressing, but then it is about Nazi Germany, so what do you expect? A lovely read, and highly recommended.

If you like read:
Night - Elie Wiesel
Everything is Illuminated - Jonathan Safron Foer

Watchmen

Who Watches the Watchmen?

I suppose that Watchmen by Alan Moore is a heady book to start with, but I have it in front of me at the moment, and no access to anything else. If you aren't familiar with it already, it is the story of the disenchanted super hero. Think the Incredibles, but R rated. Set in the 80s, Watchmen follows the story of several "costumed heroes" struggling to survive and even save a world embroiled in the Soviet conflict and on the brink of destruction. Rorschach, one of the characters, puts it rather succinctly; "Now the whole world stands on The Brink, staring down into the bloody hell." I forgot to mention, its a comic book.

Like any fine comic book, the story is about super heroes, but with a twist. None, save one, actually have any super powers and superheroing is illegal. It is the story of normal people - you and I, your neighbor next door - trying to save the world. Perhaps not an entirely new take, Batman after all is entirely human, but it does lead to an unconventional super hero book. One person does in fact have super powers, but he ultimately refuses to save the world. Similarly, another character, one with pseudo-super powers, exists in some nebulous zone between hero and anti-hero. The only true heroes of the book are entirely human.

So how do you save a world threatened by the prospect of nuclear war? Where do you even start? I don't know. Like many good stories it starts in medias res. The world has been happily heading into the bowels of hell for quite some time. The reader is thrust into this violent and turbulent world. However, the story does attempt to explain itself. At the end of each chapter, a short two or three pages are devoted to a variety of short interludes which help explain the world. The first is devoted to fictional character Hollis Mason's Under the Hood. A declared autobiography which contextualizes the phenomena of the "costumed hero" and roots the reader in the story. These are later replaced with letters, articles, and a variety of other materials.

Ultimately, The characters drive the story. Throughout the novel/comic the exploration of human character reigns supreme. From the very beginning, the question of "what brings a person to behave the way that [Hollis Mason] and people like [him] behave, what makes [them] do the sort of things [they] do." Like any good story, all the characters could use a good session in the shrink's chair (one does, but that's neither here nor there). I suppose that is what makes any story good; empathy, or the ability for you and I to relate to the characters in the story. These characters are much more approachable than the invincible Superman or the calculating Batman.

Alan Moore weaves his delightful characters through an incredibly imaginative world, delighting the reader at every turn. Overall its an incredibly well done tale, full of exciting visuals, enthralling characters, and a fully realized idea. I'm sure you will have complaints about the novel - still I imagine they will be few and far between and ultimately individual. I would be surprised if you and I complained of the same aspect of the book. Well done Mr. Moore, your hair is even crazier than mine, and your story is simply marvelous.

PS - The movie is comes out March 2009 - it looks good so far, and true to the book.

If you like read:
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
Hart's Hope - Orson Scott Card

The Concept

I have read rather a selection of different books from a wide variety of areas over the past few years (read around 10). Through some foolish inspiration, or moment of clarity, or what have you, I've decided to post reviews and thoughts about this bevy of literary, or non-literary, material. In some cases, I've no doubt, it will appear as a review, in others as an essay reflecting some aspect or inspiring snippet of the work.

At any rate, that is the premise, come what may.