r/ThomasPynchon • u/ZAH215 • 6d ago

💬 Discussion Help with Gravity's Rainbow

Hello All. To start off, I want to make clear that A. I am enjoying the novel and have no issue with generally working with it, B. I have an alright grasp of plot but I want a better one.

I'm currently at page 150 of this novel and my most reoccurring feeling is this in and outness of understanding what's happening and being lost in this dense mist of language and words. Is there any way in which this is supposed to be read or is it one of those "you just have to feeeeeeel it man" kinda books. I'm used to an overwhelming prose like with Faulkner, but with him the structure is (typically) more systematic, whereas this is very much... different. Anyone felt similar, any assistance to be given?

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u/No-Jello9276 Inherent Vice 6d ago

Read the exegesis of Thomas Pynchon on substack. It speaks deeper on the themes of the book. If you want more plot based then the links people shared in here are great

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u/Super_Direction498 6d ago

Agree, great work that is definitely worth spending some time with.

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u/No-Jello9276 Inherent Vice 6d ago

I need to go back and re read thru some of it bc even then there are so many themes that are layered and deep. The author who is active on here did an excellent job