A review by robertrivasplata
Vineland by Thomas Pynchon

adventurous challenging emotional funny lighthearted mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

Story of how the hopeful moment of the late 60s turned into the austere/greedy 80s, mostly told through flashbacks and recollections of hippies, former radicals, snitches, DEA agents, & ghosts, among others. Begins and ends set in the fictional Northern California county/community of Vineland, which is basically a fantasy version of Humboldt/Eureka, located slightly to the south of the real Humboldt County. Has lots of digressions, including musical numbers, and weird sexual urges being major drivers of the plot, so sort of like Gravity's Rainbow. Also like Gravity's Rainbow, some parts are easier to get into than others, although unlike Gravity's Rainbow there isn't really any part of Vineland that I really disliked. While I like the parts with Vineland the best, I'm not sure why Pynchon had to invent a new weird county in that part of CA, when Humboldt County is already right there. Overall, Vineland is pretty good, but I'm still not buying Pynchon as one of the greatest American authors.