Vineland by Thomas Pynchon REVIEW

Is Thomas Pynchon's "weakest" novel as weak as lots of people make it seem?

What do you think about Vineland? Are you a fan or do you agree with Bloom?
Let me know in the comments!

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[timkjazz]

'Vineland' is terrific, Pynchon readers have to understand he already wrote 'Gravity's Rainbow' and won't be writing it again. Every novel doesn't have to be a grand slam, a double down the line is fine too. And Bloom is a snob, love his reviews mostly but understand he lives in the 1400's most of the time.

[Gewok]

Vineland is one of my favourite Pynchon books. It's really sympathetic to its characters but still manages to have a bitter-sweet ending. Also there's some great English food if you know where to look.

[chokingmessiah]

Basically, if you're addicted to and love Pynchon you have to read Vineland. only, really. You brought up some good points and I agree for the most part— It's (one) of his weakest, but it's important to his body of work as a whole, I believe, and anyone who likes Pynchon will most likely enjoy the book. Fun fact- before Paul Thomas Anderson made Inherent Vice into a film, he had been obsessed with Vineland for a couple of decades and had even written a screenplay for it but just couldn't make it into a feature film because of numerous difficulties. Btw, I'm glad to see you made it to England safe. Interesting looking room. Hope you're having a decent time over there! Anyway, take care.

[blaze]

There's a character in Gravity's Rainbow called Pudding.

[emilioocchialini]

This was my second Pynchon, i read it after Inherent Vice and i loved it, as you said the book culd be apprecciated by those who are getting into pynchon for the first time. As regards those taglines you quoted from your cover i think that peoples confused the word "funny" with "exhilarating", because the situation in which the characters are involved are extremely exhilarating in their extravaganza, i.e. the part of Takashi in Japan (with many reference to Godzilla and 2001), the monastery of Ninja nuns, the Tanathoid's valley ecc. And The way Pynchon deals with the TUBE was very fascinating, as it was the very character of the novel as the Rocket in Gravity's rainbow is the Main character.
And yes it's not the better book of Pynchon but is always a significant book, as Death Proof isn't the best movie by Tarantino but is also a great piece of cinema!;)

[Brewmaster]

Biggest literary tragedy: Bret Easton Ellis's discovery of twitter

[adeck]

Was about to read it. And I think I will. Thanks! Read crying of lot 49 two times a fer years back, loved it. Read Inherent Vice and had mixed feelings. Approached V, but put it down. And now I'm finishing Bleeding Edge and I'm loving it. I feel as if something finally clicked. Like I've came to appreciate the craziness that is Thomas Pynchon. Which is odd, for a non-fiction buff. Anyways, thanks for the review.

[allaboutdmagic]

VINELAND TRIVIA: this book does contain Pynchon's nod to the makers of Buckaroo Banzai, the cult '80s sci-fi film which had several refs to Pynchon's work. The band Eddie Enrico and his Hong Kong Hotshots are that nod.

[JoaquinStick]

Great review, man! I'm on the last chapter of Vineland and, so far, I agree with a lot of what you said in your review. I was just wondering what you thought of a theory that I've seen that Vineland (or some approximation of it) was originally intended to be a part of Against the Day? I think that the theory has some merit, there's obviously the Traverse connection, but aside from that many themes are shared between the two books (though the same could be said of all of Pynchon's work, I guess). We'll probably never get any answers about this, but I think it's fun to speculate.

[carlkolchak]

i am 66% done and i like it. 4 out of 5. talented writer, my first book of his. reminds me of "kill bill" a bit. and because i am older i understand the references in the 60's.

[djpeanutbutterjelly]

Did you ever end up reading Purity? I know you mentioned it in your reading list for 2016 but I haven't seen you mention it anywhere. I just finished it, and I found it rather inconsequential and a pretty disappointing introduction to Franzen, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

[renegade]

Vineland is my favorite Pynchon, though I do believe is not his best :D

[likuanwei]

"Which of course leads us to the vital question: Do I recommend rice pudding to you guys?"

[ardayesildag]

Started to read Against The Day and I'm at 70s. Just the beginning but it's fun and creative as hell but a bit difficult to follow. Any advice about the book?

[vanessapopescu]

Love your reviews/channel. Bravissimo, grazie.

[lareinathelassa]

I've read Lot 49 in one sitting for a uni final (we had to read it ourselves) and got a blinding headache. Analysing it was such a task!

[manafish]

nice video. have you read v yet? i hear that's meant to be one of his best, although i haven't gotten round to reading it yet.

[pmontana]

I was drawn toward Vineland after the American election in November and I found it a really wonderful read. Enjoyed it immensely. It feels like an uplifting literary response to the authoritarianism of the Nixon and Reagan regimes. Final chapter was excellent, a really striking turn toward positivity for P. All the stories surrounding DL were fantastic. I think all the negative reviews stem from it being so LIGHT compared to Gravity's Rainbow in every way. It's shorter, much easier to read, and has a more positive family-oriented outlook. I'm sure at the time it was published, when everyone was dying to read a new Pynchon novel, it felt disappointing. Plus the subsequent beastly epics totally dwarfed it. But I kept getting the impression when reading it that if this is Pynchon's WORST, then he's got a pretty incredible oeuvre. Having just finished Bleeding Edge, I noted many similarities between the two. I still have to read Against the Day, Mason & Dixon, and V. but I'm tempted to go back and re-read Vineland and Bleeding Edge before that because they're such entertaining reads.

[helloitsokay]

I can't imagine relocating from a culinary heaven like Italy to a place like England. The look on your face when you tried our attempts at Italian cuisine must have been one of ultimate disappointment. Good review, too.

[LauraFreyReadinginBed]

I loved Vineland, but it's the only book of his I've read. I'm a little intimidated by his other stuff.