Where is Gaddis?

[WyattGwyon]

Does anyone else out there read William Gaddis? (I notice he doesn't have his own sub-forum.) If not, I guess I should write a few book reviews to try to get folks interested. Three of his novels, The Recognitions, JR, and Carpenter's Gothic are among my very favorites. It is hard for me to imagine a list of great late-twentieth-century novelists that doesn't have his name near the top.

[nathank]

Yeah, I enjoyed JR and the Recognitions too. You might want to try the fictional woods:

http://s11.zetaboards.com/thefictionalwoods/topic/783287/1/

They have a slightly different bend regarding the type of books discussed. I'm glad to see someone else out there who reads him too :)

[arrytus]

I've read 'Frolic...' and JR and loved both. hilarious and frenetic and intricate. the only reason I've not read the other 2 [well three... how was Agape Agape?] is that I've not found a copy of them at my local used bookstore. Perhaps the most underappreciated American author, and certainly IMO one of the top 3 since the 50's [Faulkner's latter and McCarthy- I rate Pynchon lower, not only in a personal taste but I'm not sold that he will hold up in a hundred years]

[WyattGwyon]

I've read 'Frolic...' and JR and loved both. hilarious and frenetic and intricate. the only reason I've not read the other 2 [well three... how was Agape Agape?] is that I've not found a copy of them at my local used bookstore. Perhaps the most underappreciated American author, and certainly IMO one of the top 3 since the 50's [Faulkner's latter and McCarthy- I rate Pynchon lower, not only in a personal taste but I'm not sold that he will hold up in a hundred years]

I would say "the other two" and leave Agape Agape to the side. The Recognitions is my favorite (by far) of his novels. Its comic aspects are not in the foreground as much as in JR and Frolic, though it is often hilarious (I found myself laughing out loud on the subway.) There is much that is deadly serious in it. It has labyrinthine networks of reference among its scenes that are probably impossible to unravel on a single reading, but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the first time. Carpenter's Gothic is the only short one. It is dark, claustrophobic, malevolent, funny, and complex. This too is a must read in my book.

I agree with what you say concerning Pynchon. Cormac McCarthy is among my favorites as well. I've read all of his novels at least once. What would you recommend as the most essential late Faulkner?

[arrytus]

I would say "the other two" and leave Agape Agape to the side. The Recognitions is my favorite (by far) of his novels. Its comic aspects are not in the foreground as much as in JR and Frolic, though it is often hilarious (I found myself laughing out loud on the subway.) There is much that is deadly serious in it. It has labyrinthine networks of reference among its scenes that are probably impossible to unravel on a single reading, but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the first time. Carpenter's Gothic is the only short one. It is dark, claustrophobic, malevolent, funny, and complex. This too is a must read in my book.

I agree with what you say concerning Pynchon. Cormac McCarthy is among my favorites as well. I've read all of his novels at least once. What would you recommend as the most essential late Faulkner?


You know I might have to revise my statement on Faulkner simply because checking Wiki I am proved incorrect in thinking that The Hamlet, Intruder in the Dust, Go Down Moses were all in the 50's [according to my editions, which must be 2nd or 3rd printings and the info was recorded or recalled incorrectly by my mind].

I've yet to read the latter 2 of the Snopes Trilogy [mainly because I don't own a copy of The Town and don't want to skip ahead to the Mansion]. So though I've still read 3 of the 5 novels he published in the 50's [according to Wiki], and they were enjoyable, the only one which I would recommend is The Reivers, which was satisfying in that not only was it risible and well written but that he could go out on such a strong note, a book which could hold its own even if it were the only one he ever wrote.