# Against the Day

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-the-day/385486>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 24, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-the-day/385486 "2006-12-24T21:54:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-the-day/385486/1 "2006-12-24T21:54:26Z")

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Well, now … this is a surprise.

“V” seemed to be unfocused on a lot of levels.

“Gravity’s Rainbow” was way to dense to be enjoyable.

“Mason & Dixon” … eh, I gave it a shot but couldn’t get past the Victorian style of speech he used throughout the book and was too busy trying to parse sentences than reading.

But “Against the Day” … I just started it and can honestly say that this is the first time I’m actually having FUN reading a Thomas Pynchon book.

Is anybody else reading it?

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**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-the-day/385486/2 "2006-12-24T22:07:07Z")

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I asked Santa for a copy. Maybe if he stops fondling those damned kids…

But I agree with you on Pynchon and I’m looking forward to _Against the Day_.

Of course, you didn’t mention _The Crying of Lot 49_. If you want _fun_ Pynchon, that’s the book.

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**Author:** ![Eutychus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Eutychus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eutychus)\
**Post date:** [December 24, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/against-the-day/385486/3 "2006-12-24T22:45:53Z")

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[QUOTE=Exapno Mapcase]  
I asked Santa for a copy. Maybe if he stops fondling those damned kids…

But I agree with you on Pynchon and I’m looking forward to _Against the Day_.

Of course, you didn’t mention _The Crying of Lot 49_. If you want _fun_ Pynchon, that’s the book.  
[/QUOTE]

I read _Crying_ too long ago to remember it, but I may have to go back to it now.

But this one … it’s a keeper. When you stumble upon a scene with the Archduke Ferdinand telling “Yo mamma” jokes, you know you’re in good hands. If Santa doesn’t bring it for you … go get it yourself.