"Gravity's Rainbow" by Thomas Pynchon is a complex and dense novel set in Europe at the end of World War II, focusing on the design, production, and dispatch of V 2 rockets by the German military. The story revolves around the quest of various characters to uncover the secret of a mysterious device named the Schwarzgerät, which is to be installed in a rocket with the serial number 00000. Pynchon's writing style is frequently digressive, subverting traditional elements of plot and character development, and incorporating detailed knowledge from various disciplines.

The novel is known for its innovation and complexity, often praised for pushing the boundaries of postmodern writing. However, some readers find the book challenging due to the multitude of characters, intricate plotlines, and the author's tendency to jump about seemingly at random. Despite its challenging nature, "Gravity's Rainbow" is recognized for its poetic and beautiful moments, as well as its exploration of themes related to the quest for being and the breaking down of social constructions.

Characters:

The characters are a diverse assemblage representing various ideologies and issues, often more symbolic than traditionally developed.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is marked by complexity and richness, employing a mix of humor, wordplay, and experimental narrative techniques.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers on Tyrone Slothrop's search for the V2 rocket and the dark and absurd realities of the world around him, filled with paranoia and surreal events.

Setting:

The setting is post-World War II Europe, capturing the tumultuous and chaotic atmosphere of that era.

Pacing:

The pacing is uneven, characterized by a mix of long, detailed passages and fast-paced absurdity.

It is too late. The Evacuation still proceeds, but it's all theatre. There are no lights inside the cars. No light anywhere. Above him lift girders old as an iron queen, and glass somewhere far above ...

Notes:

Gravity's Rainbow was published in 1973 and is widely regarded as a challenging novel.

The book is set during the end of World War II and focuses on the V2 rocket program.

Tyrone Slothrop, the protagonist, has his sexual experiences linked to V2 rocket strikes in London.

Pynchon's writing style features long sentences, complex language, and an extensive cast of characters.

The novel blends various genres, including mystery, satire, and science fiction.

Gravity's Rainbow explores themes of paranoia, war, and the intersection of technology and humanity.

The book was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize in 1974, but the board declined to award it due to its controversial content.

Readers often report needing a companion guide to understand the novel's extensive references and allusions.

Pynchon incorporates elements of humor, absurdity, and social commentary throughout the narrative.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for Gravity's Rainbow include graphic depictions of sex, drug use, violence, and themes of psychological trauma and mental illness.

Has Romance?

There are elements of romance and sexual relationships woven throughout the narrative, though they are often depicted in a complex and sometimes grotesque manner.

From The Publisher:

Discover Thomas Pynchon's brilliant writing in this postmodern literature classic.

'The greatest, wildest author of his generation' Guardian

We could tell you the year is 1944, that the main character is called Tyrone Slothrop and that he has a problem because bombs are falling across Europe and crashing to the earth at the exact locations of his sexual conquests. But that doesn't really begin to cover it.

Reading this book is like falling down a rabbit hole into an outlandish, sinister, mysterious, absurd, compulsive netherworld. As The Financial Times said, 'you must forget earlier notions about life and letters and even the Novel.' Forty years since its publication, Gravity's Rainbow has lost none of its power to enthral.

Ratings (21)

Incredible (8)
Loved It (7)
Liked It (3)
Did Not Like (3)

Reader Stats (115):

Read It (22)
Currently Reading (6)
Want To Read (70)
Did Not Finish (7)
Not Interested (10)

1 comment(s)

grithic

Loved It

9 months

I can't believe I finished that. It was about 30% utter brilliance and 70% mind-shattering aggravation. This is probably a book that needs to be read again, but I'll be damned if that's gonna happen. This book cannot be faithfully encapsulated by any summary or review. I don't recommend this to anyone wishing to retain their sanity... and now a hymn and a hit of Onerine as we approach brenschluss...

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About the Author:

Thomas Pynchon is the author of V., The Crying of Lot 49, Gravity's Rainbow, Slow Learner, a collection of short stories, Vineland, Mason and Dixon, Against the Day, Inherent Vice and, most recently, Bleeding Edge. He received the National Book Award for Gravity's Rainbow in 1974.

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Gravity's Rainbow

Thomas Pynchon