Reviews

V. by Thomas Pynchon

tura's review against another edition

challenging mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

ismelllikebooks's review against another edition

5.0

"Does it make any difference? If it were only a hallucination, it was not what i saw or believed i saw that in the end is important. It is what i thought. What truth i came to."

harlenguin's review against another edition

4.0

Not a longform review but a few observations:
-I didn't like Crying of Lot 49 and couldn't see why it was liked, but now I think I probably could if I read it again, which I should.
-A lot of this felt to me like it was "Pynchon stuff" rather than "V. stuff", so I'm not really sure of this book's own identity, perhaps? As I read more by him I'm sure I'll understand.
-It's good.

kevinhurley's review

5.0

Pynchon’s highly descriptive prose gives you an absurd amount of detail into the multiple perspectives of many characters in this noir, romantic, historical, political science fiction novel? I’ve fallen in love with Pynchon. I’ve never read anything like V. It’s one of my new favorite novels. I already have purchased Vineland as the next Pynchon I will read. I adored this one.

dukegregory's review

1.0

The second most irritating book I've read thus far this year (the premier title still fits upon Minor Detail's disintegrating scalp), and yet I'm obsessed with one scene and one scene only: Father Fairing and his conversion of various New York sewer rats to Roman Catholicism. Iconic! That's utterly unforgettable. But, otherwise, I do not care. I have no interest in caring. I won't. This is a precursor to Pynchon's future but in all of his worst ways. Disparate plots that I do not care to decode both as their own plots and as part of a greater narrative patchwork that he seems to be setting up, usually unfunny puns, themes that do never coalesce, etc. This feels like a scam, a sham and a scam, a scammy sham, a shammy scam.

Early Pynchon is awful except for Gravity's Rainbow, no matter how on show his intellect is in this and The Crying of Lot 49. I plan to get through his entire bibliography, because Gravity's Rainbow is next-level, but this makes me nervous. I plead to my agnostic lord above for middle Pynchon (Vineland) and all of late Pynchon to be better, to be his best even. I beg. I plead.

witherskeleton's review against another edition

challenging funny lighthearted mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mayoresquire's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The story of the 20th century.

offboss's review against another edition

4.0

For me, older Pynchon has portions of brilliance and really fantastic ideas - Catholic rats and fatalistic alligators in the sewers, the various conspiracy plots. Between all of that, cartoonish and boring stretches. The overall structure of the novel (a literal V) is incredibly satisfying and rewards close reading as piece falls into place.

dunkeldak's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

listensandy's review

adventurous funny mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5