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A review by joshuadavid1986
Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon
4.0
Exact Rating: 3.75 stars
“Mason & Dixon” is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. This extremely postmodern novel reads like a historical documentary written by someone on an acid trip who also really loves silly puns. It was at times enthralling, frustrating, fascinating, tender, impenetrable and hilarious.
I spent nearly 2.5 months wading through these pages and there were a couple weeks during which I was NOT enjoying the experience. But now that I’ve reached the conclusion, I am fully satisfied - grateful to have had the chance to read this story. I'll miss these characters that I spent so much time with.
This book is assuredly a work of genius. The research that went into every single chapter must have been immense! And it is never boring. Even the segments that I most struggled with were not for lack of effort or creativity on the part Pynchon. Instead, it was sometimes when the prose was TOO metatextual and off-the-wall that I felt the most frustration. Every storyline was a swing for the fences, but not all of them connected…at least not for me.
As I’ve said in previous reviews, my overall rating sometimes doesn’t feel representative of my true experience. There were plenty of times where I felt like this work deserved five stars, but there were certainly others when I felt like I'd be generous to give it three.
In my opinion, this story is at its best when it’s taking something ridiculous from real history (e.g. the pooping duck automaton) and really leaning into the absurdity. Or alternatively, when it focuses on Mason & Dixon themselves and the softer side of their often quarrelsome relationship, like this exchange regarding Mason’s beloved wife, who has recently passed:
“Tell me, then,- what if I can't just lightly let her drop? What if I won't just leave her to the Weather, and Forgetfulness? What if I want to spend, even squander, my precious time trying to make it up to her? Somehow? Do you think anyone can simply let that all go?"
“Thou must," Dixon does not say.
Instead, tilting his wine-glass at Mason as if ‘twere a leaden Ale-Can, he beams sympathetically. "Then tha must break thy Silence, and tell me somewhat of her.”
“Mason & Dixon” is one of the most unique books I’ve ever read. This extremely postmodern novel reads like a historical documentary written by someone on an acid trip who also really loves silly puns. It was at times enthralling, frustrating, fascinating, tender, impenetrable and hilarious.
I spent nearly 2.5 months wading through these pages and there were a couple weeks during which I was NOT enjoying the experience. But now that I’ve reached the conclusion, I am fully satisfied - grateful to have had the chance to read this story. I'll miss these characters that I spent so much time with.
This book is assuredly a work of genius. The research that went into every single chapter must have been immense! And it is never boring. Even the segments that I most struggled with were not for lack of effort or creativity on the part Pynchon. Instead, it was sometimes when the prose was TOO metatextual and off-the-wall that I felt the most frustration. Every storyline was a swing for the fences, but not all of them connected…at least not for me.
As I’ve said in previous reviews, my overall rating sometimes doesn’t feel representative of my true experience. There were plenty of times where I felt like this work deserved five stars, but there were certainly others when I felt like I'd be generous to give it three.
In my opinion, this story is at its best when it’s taking something ridiculous from real history (e.g. the pooping duck automaton) and really leaning into the absurdity. Or alternatively, when it focuses on Mason & Dixon themselves and the softer side of their often quarrelsome relationship, like this exchange regarding Mason’s beloved wife, who has recently passed:
“Tell me, then,- what if I can't just lightly let her drop? What if I won't just leave her to the Weather, and Forgetfulness? What if I want to spend, even squander, my precious time trying to make it up to her? Somehow? Do you think anyone can simply let that all go?"
“Thou must," Dixon does not say.
Instead, tilting his wine-glass at Mason as if ‘twere a leaden Ale-Can, he beams sympathetically. "Then tha must break thy Silence, and tell me somewhat of her.”