The Crying of Lot 49 - 2.5 stars (Subdue)

[Joy D]

The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon - 2.5* - My Review

I had heard of this book for years, but never got around to reading it. It is a bizarre story that does not lend itself to a succinct summary. It starts off straight-forward enough. A woman is designated the executrix of the estate of her former lover, a California real estate magnate.

There are numerous characters with goofy names, a secret society, an underground postal system, a conspiracy theory with ancient roots, references to entropy and thermodynamics, increasing paranoia, and the feeling that what appears to be real may actually be a hoax. It has the bones of a mystery, but the plot (if one can even call it a plot) is outlandish and very little is resolved.

Pynchon definitely has a unique writing style. Published in 1966, there are a few elements that seem dated and plenty of references to the proverbial sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. I can only wonder what drugs the author was taking at the time (kidding…maybe). It won’t be for everyone. This is a parody of American society, though I felt like I was lacking the secret decoder ring.

PBT Comments: I rounded up because it was short.