I am not an English major, but I am not an idiot either. This being the case, I have tried and failed to read Gravity’s Rainbow twice, each time starting from the very first page and ending somewhere around page 250.
Now, on page 200 my third time through Pynchon’ magnum opus, I think I have come up with a strategy that will ensure that I can finally finish GR, but more importantly, I have come up with a way of reading it where I truly enjoy every page.
First, some background info: In case you do not know, Gravity’s Rainbow is a 775 page WWII epic about a guy who gets a boner before a rocket falls on him. There are secret organizations of all kinds that attempt to capture him and use his “skill” for their own purposes as he wanders aimlessly through war-torn Europe. It is almost universally recognized as one of the greatest books of the 20th century (meaning that it is an extremely long book that few people finish).
This is a strange and twisted novel. The narrative jumps all over the place and hundreds (if not thousands) of characters are introduced to the reader and then dropped, only to return a hundred pages later seemingly out of nowhere. Thousands of references and inside jokes are made concerning everything from Jazz to Astrophysics. There is a trained assassin octopus named Grigori. Only one thing is constant: Tyrone Slothrop and his rocket detecting erection.
Why should you care about this book?
1. It rules. Although it is not always the case that critics are right about books, Gravity’s Rainbow is undeniably amazing. Even when I was struggling with the book, I could not help but be blown away by Pynchon’s writing and the level of detail.
2. Lame pretentious people who aren’t smarter than you have read it. Why not try and one-up some English major who is impressing girls because he has read this book? Chances are that the dude you overhear talking about it never even finished it, so go ahead and make him look like an idiot. It will make you feel smart and you can bring justice to the world.
3. For some reason hipsters have decided that they love Pynchon as much as they like fixed gear bikes. For proof, go find an interview with James Murphy, he will totally be talking about it. If you think you are a cool kid then its required that you read this book (although I am not quite sure why).
4. It allows you to understand other things: numerous references in everything from the Sopranos to that Klaxons song (you know, the one called Gravity's Rainbow) are from GR. You know that scene in Trainspotting where the dude goes down the toilette? Straight out of GR.
5. Fun Factor: Reading a big book that is supposedly difficult makes you feel good. Novels are written to be read, GR is no different. Having a good time reading is awesome.
My new strategy for reading the book has 3 tenets:
1. Do not attempt to understand all of Pynchon’s references. When I first started to read GR, I felt like I was missing too many references. This is not the case: Pynchon places these obscure tidbits in the novel to enrich your read, not to infuriate you. Be happy when you understand, move on when you don’t.
2. Do not attempt to understand the plot: Gravity’s Rainbow is insane. It is a mess so intricate and strange that it is almost unnecessary to try and untangle. Just pay attention to what Slothrop is up to and the activity of the few main characters. Pynchon leaves enough clear so that the reader is not totally lost. Just when you think you have no idea what is going on, trust Pynchon to enlighten you in a few pages. You will begin to get it, I promise.
3. Read at a quick, constant pace. You will enjoy the book more if you do no labor over hard to understand passages. JUST KEEP READING.
Keep in mind that I have not yet finished the book, but my new strategy is working extremely well thus far. I am having a better summer because I am reading this book and I urge you readers out there to give it a try. If the dudes from Klaxons can read it, then so can you.
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