My current book, and others I'd recommend

**pringlechip** · 09-04-2009 01:49 AM

I'm currently reading Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow; this book is completely appropriate for dreamers in that the style of writing is dreamlike, and even at times hallucinogenic.

I will say though that the book is pretty dense (i.e. Pynchon likes to devote whole pages to imagery, and technical details) often entering characters' daydreams without warning, and, from there, delving into the pasts, or switching to the point of views of characters within the daydream.

I've had the book for about a week now, and only find myself just past the 100th page. Slow reading for me, but so far worth every moment. So many layers of meaning, and profound moments!

Another thing: I do not recommend this work to those not yet past at least junior year of High School. I'm a 19yr. old with an above average reading level, and I have had trouble comprehending many of Pynchon's more cryptic sentences.

Other books I'd recommend are:
House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (another work layered with meaning, and thoroughly entertaining/ haunting)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson (beware the bats)
Child of Fortune by Norman Spinrad (especially to teenagers just out of High School/ going into College)
Accelerando by Charles Stross (for the Science Fiction fanatics like myself, especially if you're interested in the upcoming Singularity)
Watchmen written by Alan Moore (great reflection of modern society despite its' age)

For now these books are all I can remember that I wanted to mention here, but if I remember more I will gladly post them.

**Tyler** · 09-04-2009 01:56 AM

http://www.dreamviews.com/community/...ight=book+list

Welcome to DV

**pringlechip** · 09-04-2009 08:13 AM

Thank you, I do know how to use the search function, but in my crazed haste I forgot about that possibilty

.

In that case I'd like to devote this thread specifically to Gravity's Rainbow. Has anybody else read it? If so how relevant do you feel it is to dreaming? Were you able to transition into different time periods, and characters smoothly, or did you suddenly find yourself asking wtf just happened?...where am I?

Has anybody read any of Thomas Pynchon's other novels?

**Mes Tarrant** · 09-04-2009 08:38 AM

What exactly is the book about? I just looked it up on Amazon and am still a little confused. All I know is there's destruction galore...

Reading the reviews, it seems that a lot of people agree with you that it's a difficult read. What I don't get is how a book like that could become a classic - as far as I understand it, it's like a long incoherent rambling in which some people try to find (or maybe create) plot lines or some sense of connectivity.

**Tarsier** · 09-05-2009 10:10 AM

What's wrong with that

**pringlechip** · 09-08-2009 12:15 AM

Well I don't want to give anything away, but I will do my best to give a sketch of what is going on.

The story takes place at the end of WWII. The Nazi Party, in a last ditch effort to salvage the war, is launching V2 rockets at London. The story centers around (sometimes) the characters involved in predicting where the rockets will fall, and the characters launching the rockets. This is by no means a war book; it is a story that just happens to take place during the War. Basically the book follows how the War affects the lives of the people indirectly involved, their relationships with others, and how the nature of society changes as a result of devastating war. As I stated before this is a mature book (many graphic/ semi-porn scenes, drug use, and just adult themes in general) so if you're offended easily this book may not be for you... or it may be

**Mes Tarrant** · 09-08-2009 02:33 AM

Haha.

I only get offended by extreme sexism, but even then I try to enjoy stories for what they are.

Okay. I might give this a shot. I wonder if they carry it in the English bookstores around here.