Gravity's Rainbow

i think the crux of this (and maybe pynchon's work in general) is the dichotomy between chaos and control in the order of the world, and i think that's especially fitting considering the novel's famously regarded style. pynchon's prose is some of the best i've read, rendering many scenes baffling or vulgar yet imbuing others with a sense of oddly ethereal beauty.

perhaps a more critical look at the novel is futile considering how much of the plot i was unable to grasp, but nonetheless, i don't think this is perfect. imo pynchon abuses racial slurs a bit gratuitously despite the anti-racist sentiment, and i just find some digressions to just be unnecessary in the wider scope of things. though the wide base of knowledge, the countless facts and intellectual digressions weaved through the story matter is undoubtedly part of the appeal. the amalgam of ideas here is intriguing, and the wider story of a world torn by war is endlessly fascinating. pynchon encompasses so many topics into ~700 pages and still makes the transitions between them feel generally intuitive and natural. absolute madlad.

can't really explain it, but this is one of the best things i've read. solid five stars.