PelagiusSeptim's recent activity
-
Comment on Which challenging book was worth the effort for you? in ~books
-
Comment on Which challenging book was worth the effort for you? in ~books
PelagiusSeptim LinkSorry @Carrie, I thought about doing Ulysses but I'm pretty sure I previously said in weekly reading thread that I would give my thoughts on Gravity's Rainbow and never got around to it, so here...Sorry @Carrie, I thought about doing Ulysses but I'm pretty sure I previously said in weekly reading thread that I would give my thoughts on Gravity's Rainbow and never got around to it, so here goes!
Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon is one that has a reputation for difficulty but was absolutely worth the effort. Much like Ulysses, there is a combination of beautiful writing and a lot of very low brow humor.
One of the elements that Pynchon is famous for is constant digressions and parentheticals, and this book is no exception. In one chapter we see that a woman in a room is secretly being filmed. Then we learn about that character's backstory, involving a sort of Hansel and Gretel themed BDSM trio. Then it pivots to a story about her great grandfather, who had been individually responsible for the extinction of the dodos. We then learn about how the woman escaped her old life and got here, and the character who got ger out mentions an intelligent octopus his agency has been working on. We then learn that that octopus is the one holding the camera and filming her! If that sounds a little hard to follow, it is.
The narrative is very complex, and with so many characters and plot threads it can be hard to understand what exactly is going on and why at times, but even when the book is at its most obscure there are laugh out loud moments to keep you going. A good example of this is an early episode where a character finds himself needing to swim down the toilet in a jazz club, a la Trainspotting, and there is a drawn out passage of him examining the various turds. It is unclear until later that this is a character being drugged and interrogated, but the whole passage is super funny and keeps you turning the page.
This isn't a book I'd recommend for everybody, not really because of its difficulty but because of its content. There is a lot of disturbing sexual material, including pedophilia, and some that is just disgusting. This novel was selected by the Pulitzer jury in 1974, but no prize was awarded that year because the Pulitzer committee found it to be obscene. I also have raved about the humor, but I do think you have to have a very juvenile sense of humor to enjoy a lot of this.
That being said, this is one of the best books I have read, and if you're thinking of reading it and are put off by the difficulty, I would recommend just diving in! If you are put off by the content, I would recommend some of Pynchon's other work more. Mason & Dixon in particular is a terrific experience as well, challenging in its own right, but a lot more upbeat than GR.
-
Comment on ‘The Simpsons,’ ‘Family Guy,’ ‘Bob’s Burgers’ renewed for four more seasons in ~tv
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI pretty much agree with you that family guy was never that great but Simpsons when it was good was really fantastic!I pretty much agree with you that family guy was never that great but Simpsons when it was good was really fantastic!
-
Comment on 2025 April Fools Roundup in ~misc
PelagiusSeptim LinkLooks like there's already an official megathread posted in ~talkLooks like there's already an official megathread posted in ~talk
-
Comment on What does a newcomer moving to your town/city/state/country need to know? in ~life
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentNot uncommon in a lot of places to call your friends boy, and if you don't understand the racial connotation you may get yourself in some troubleNot uncommon in a lot of places to call your friends boy, and if you don't understand the racial connotation you may get yourself in some trouble
-
Comment on Pure Bash bible: a collection of pure Bash alternatives to external processes in ~comp
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentAh, the old tildes bash-a-roo! Hold my pipes, I'm going in!Ah, the old tildes bash-a-roo! Hold my pipes, I'm going in!
-
Comment on Third Eye Blind: Tiny Desk Concert (2025) in ~music
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI'm familiar with semi charmed life, but don't know why its content would mean it doesn't appear in this set. Does Tiny Desk not allow drug and sex references, or is it a situation where the band...I'm familiar with semi charmed life, but don't know why its content would mean it doesn't appear in this set. Does Tiny Desk not allow drug and sex references, or is it a situation where the band prefers not to perform it in general anymore?
-
Comment on Michelle Obama launches podcast with her brother Craig Robinson in ~life
PelagiusSeptim LinkAlways excited for a moment then disappointed when I immediately remember it's the other Craig Robinson. Not to diss him though, don't know enough about the guy to say he'd be bad on a podcast!Always excited for a moment then disappointed when I immediately remember it's the other Craig Robinson. Not to diss him though, don't know enough about the guy to say he'd be bad on a podcast!
-
Comment on Has anyone read the books listed in the New Lifetime Reading Plan by Clifton Fadiman? in ~books
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentAgree with many of your thoughts, but disagree about Shakespeare being read like a book. Not to say it's not worth seeing them on stage (it definitely is!) but shakespeare really rewards close...Agree with many of your thoughts, but disagree about Shakespeare being read like a book. Not to say it's not worth seeing them on stage (it definitely is!) but shakespeare really rewards close reading, and that generally is a lot harder to do while watching a play or film. I think they also generally make for a very enjoyable reading experience!
-
Comment on America is being sold out by its leaders in ~society
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI think what pesus was saying was that it wasn't even a majority of voters, it was slightly less than 50% of those who votedI think what pesus was saying was that it wasn't even a majority of voters, it was slightly less than 50% of those who voted
-
Comment on Evolving our middleware strategy in ~tech
PelagiusSeptim Link Parent"And thus begins"? I feel like people have been talking for quite a while about how shitty red hat has gotten under IBM"And thus begins"? I feel like people have been talking for quite a while about how shitty red hat has gotten under IBM
-
Comment on Books written by humans are getting their own certification to distinguish from AI authored books in ~books
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentThat's "Pounded in the Butt by my Own Butt" for your information. The great chuck tingle would never lower himself to the use of vulgarity!That's "Pounded in the Butt by my Own Butt" for your information. The great chuck tingle would never lower himself to the use of vulgarity!
-
Comment on Elon Musk's junta establishes him as head of US government in ~society
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentThe prosecutors and inspectors general were not sent an offer to resign, they were fired. This is not about the entire federal workforce, it is about trump removing those who dared investigate his...The prosecutors and inspectors general were not sent an offer to resign, they were fired. This is not about the entire federal workforce, it is about trump removing those who dared investigate his crimes. That is a purge.
-
Comment on <deleted topic> in ~society
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI think NaraVara's comment is referring to those who are pro-gaza, evangelicals who are waiting for revelation generally are pro-israelI think NaraVara's comment is referring to those who are pro-gaza, evangelicals who are waiting for revelation generally are pro-israel
-
Comment on Did Donald Trump's executive order just make everyone in the US female? in ~society
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentChicken pox is also a herpesvirus, but I don't know if anyone would describe it as a nice way for parents to describe their children's herpes.Chicken pox is also a herpesvirus, but I don't know if anyone would describe it as a nice way for parents to describe their children's herpes.
-
Comment on New York starts enforcing $15 broadband law that ISPs tried to kill in ~tech
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentThat's definitely how we speak in Central ILThat's definitely how we speak in Central IL
-
Comment on The tsunami of burnout few see in ~health.mental
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI understand the reasoning for the policy so I don't disagree with that part, but at least on my phone reader mode doesn't get rid of bold portionsI understand the reasoning for the policy so I don't disagree with that part, but at least on my phone reader mode doesn't get rid of bold portions
-
Comment on Facebook is censoring 404 Media stories about Facebook's censorship in ~tech
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentI don't think requiring a (free) subscription to access a site's own content is quite the same as a platform blocking another site's content under false pretensesI don't think requiring a (free) subscription to access a site's own content is quite the same as a platform blocking another site's content under false pretenses
-
Comment on A deadly accident has Hawaii officials pleading for an end to amateur fireworks shows [three killed, twenty injured] in ~society
PelagiusSeptim Link ParentThat's easy enough in Illinois where we're surrounded with legal firework states, but it seems it'd be a much harder challenge in HawaiiThat's easy enough in Illinois where we're surrounded with legal firework states, but it seems it'd be a much harder challenge in Hawaii
-
Comment on How to pass the time when you have nothing to do at work and just your phone? in ~talk
PelagiusSeptim LinkMaybe be a good time to read some books, either on your phone or if you bring an ereader or physical books.Maybe be a good time to read some books, either on your phone or if you bring an ereader or physical books.
I own it but have not gotten around to it yet, I'm very interested in it though!