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Inherent Vice
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
A Best Book of the Year for the Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, and Los Angeles Times Part noir, part psychedelic romp, all Thomas Pynchonprivate eye Doc Sportello surfaces, occasionally, out of a marijuana haze to watch the end of an era. Its been awhile since Doc Sportello has seen his ex-girlfriend. Suddenly out of nowhere she shows up with a story about a plot to kidnap a billionaire land developer whom she just happens to be in love with. Its the tail end of the psychedelic sixties in L.A., and Doc knows that love is another one of those words going around at the moment, like trip or groovy, except this one usually leads to trouble. In this lively yarn, Thomas Pynchon, working in an unaccustomed genre, provides a classic illustration of the principle that if you can remember the sixties, you werent there . . . or . . . if you were there, then you . . . or, wait, is it . . .
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cant_i'm_booked
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

My favorite Pynchon by far: a hilarious, zany L.A. noir about a private investigator investigating a kidnapped real estate mogul at the behest of his ex-girlfriend. Though I am in awe of the writing and sheer breadth of knowledge that makes up Gravity‘s Rainbow, I honestly enjoyed more this light-hearted, cannabis-infused, and unapologetically SoCal romp; “Pynchon Lite” as fans likes to say.

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Therewillbebooks
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Some potential May reads for the podcast

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CallMeIshmael
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

Still processing this one, it is my first completed Pynchon and I did enjoy reading it, I was at times confused.

Smrloomis Still never read him… not sure I can handle it given his reputation🤷🏻‍♀️ 3y
18 likes1 comment
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CallMeIshmael
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Loving this so far

Leftcoastzen 👍👏❤️ 3y
17 likes1 comment
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Therewillbebooks
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Trying to land on an April #botm selection.

AmyG I like your bears. ⚡️ 4y
Therewillbebooks @AmyG Thanks! They're salt shakers 4y
71 likes2 comments
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OriginalCyn620
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Klou Based on that synopsis, I'd say you've chosen the perfect book for this one!! Great job!! 4y
OriginalCyn620 Thanks, Kyra! I‘ve never read this book, but I have seen Lebowski, and it sounded close! @Klou 4y
32 likes2 comments
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Jason7
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Mehso-so

I spent a lot time on this novel, though it turned out to be less than appealing to me. This is an unpopular opinion no doubt, as there are many who like this novel, and Pynchon, very much. Sometimes it felt like a chore to return to this story, but I finished it anyway. There are many characters to keep up with, which wouldn‘t be so bad if they were all relevant to the story. Overall rating: 3.88 stars

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gradcat
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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#7Days7Covers #CoverCrush Day 6

Hey—how are you @erinreads ... just wondering if you‘d like to join the fun. Simply post a favorite cover for seven consecutive days—no details necessary—and then tag a different Litten each day & invite them to join. Nothing to it! ♥️♥️

robinb Nice one! Love the colors! 💚💜 5y
EadieB @gradcat I love the colors too! 5y
squirrelbrain Good choice! ❤️💚💕 5y
See All 7 Comments
gradcat @robinb @EadieB @squirrelbrain Thanks peeps—you‘re all very lovely! ♥️ 5y
Andrew65 That‘s a cracking cover - colours and imagery. 5y
gradcat @Andrew65 Why, thank you, Andrew! You guys are really nice to take the time to comment...plus, can I just say? I love the word “cracking” when it‘s used as an adjective! 😂🤣😂 5y
Andrew65 @gradcat Amazing how one word can have different meanings. 5y
74 likes7 comments
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ReclusiveHermit
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

Perpetually funny, an hot mess of memorable characters and psychedelia.

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MLRio
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

Didn‘t know what the hell was going on for half this book but neither does the narrator and it‘s so much fun it‘s kind of hard to care. One big black eye on this otherwise radical sunburnt noir: even with psychedelic assistance Pynchon can‘t seem to imagine a woman who isn‘t either somebody‘s mom or a simpering sentient sex doll (or in the case of Petunia, both). Not so groovy, my dude. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled 😂 Excellent review 7y
19 likes1 comment
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MLRio
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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A book name-dropping Country Joe & the Fish in the first paragraph is as close as I get to “You had me at hello.”

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Leftcoastzen
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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#MarchMadness #ThrillersSetByTheSea Ok, so I guess it‘s not a thriller but a toked up 70s noir . Still love both the book and the movie.We have an ex girlfriend with a story about the possible kidnapping of a billionaire land developer who she happens to be in love with.There are surfers, hustlers,dopers and a murderous loan shark.Doc Sportello is on the case.Is he unflappable cuz he‘s high or ???

somebooksaround Wow this sounds wild!! 😱🙌 7y
TobeyTheScavengerMonk I love this movie! Really need to try the book. 7y
32 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Anton
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Bailedbailed

This one just isn't for me. The writing is fascinatingly labyrinthine at times and frustratingly incomprehensible at others, and I have a bad feeling none of it will amount to much in the end. I'll stick with the movie which is equally confusing but at least has a groovy vibe and abundance of cool.

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Anton
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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How my brain works:

"The Phantom Thread comes out soon."

"I should re-watch some PT Anderson films."

"I never read Inherent Vice..."

"I'm already reading two books, though."

???

*starts reading Inherent Vice*

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LaurenEH57
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
Bailedbailed

Womp womp. Just didn't hold my attention.

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LaurenEH57
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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I love a perfect quote about how people interact. #docsportello #inherentvice #kindness

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GoldenGirl
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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$1 at the Dollar General! I've seen parts of the movie (with the awesome Joaquin Phoenix), but the book is always better! #readharder

respekt1111 That cover is fantastic 👍 8y
GoldenGirl @respekt1111 That's what caught my eye before I even realized what it was! 8y
JPeterson I have this same copy on my tbr shelf! 8y
25 likes3 comments
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Ericmanciniwriter
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Bailedbailed

I try to keep it positive on here, but since I'm guessing Pynchon isn't lurking on Litsy, I have to say that I bailed hard on this one. I got what he was doing: super complicated Chandler plot plus 60s hippie elements. But I couldn't stay interested - kept finding myself looking across to my stack of library books not unlike Mr Phoenix above.

LeahBergen 😂😂 8y
mauveandrosysky This makes me feel a little better about hating the movie. 8y
ReadingEnvy I bailed on this one too (and I've made it through Gravity's Rainbow twice!!).. part of my issue was the narrator for the audiobook was super grating. 8y
ReadingEnvy @Eamann yes, second time was with a group called the Misfit Readers 8y
62 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Ericmanciniwriter
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Introvert enters hip microbrewery alone...finds bench...orders IPA...feels out of place...summons the power of Litsy...suddenly, can read and enjoy IPA with full confidence

britt_brooke 🙌🏻 8y
Louise Woo-HOO! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Definite #blameitonlitsy moment! 8y
melbeautyandbooks ❤️👍🏻👏🏻📚 8y
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DHill 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 8y
MyNamesParadise @Eamann hey do what you got to do!! 👍🏻 8y
Marchpane Little do they know you are the coolest person in the place!! 8y
Dragon 👍😀 8y
CherylDeFranceschi 👏Rock on! 🙌🏻 8y
Texreader Yesss!! 8y
Suet624 💕💕💕 8y
minkyb Yep! 8y
mauveandrosysky There's something I kinda love about reading by myself at a bar. 8y
83 likes12 comments
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Ericmanciniwriter
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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I'm one of those people who's started Gravity's Rainbow 10 times and never finished it, but I'm really liking this book. It's basically Raymond Chandler in the 60's with a dash of Big Lebowski (which, now that I think of it, was Raymond Chandler in the 90's with a guy who wished it was the 60's). Very funny book.

mauveandrosysky I've never even started Gravity's Rainbow but after tackling Infinite Jest and Underworld I think it'll be my next big post-modern challenge. I'm intrigued, but scared. Also, did you see the movie adaptation of Inherent Vice? Paul Thomas Anderson is my favorite director, but I haaaaaaated it, haha. I've never read the book. 8y
Ericmanciniwriter I found it crazy and dense and hard to follow, and I finished IJ without an issue - but I wish you well. And Jess - PTA is my favorite director too - how are we not IRL friends? 8y
mauveandrosysky Oh, heck yes. "If we meet again in the next life, you will be my sworn enemy and I will show you no mercy" is one of my favorite lines in anything ever. And hey, should you ever find yourself in the Cambridge area on one of your work trips we should meet for coffee and geek out over books and movies! 8y
48 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Ericmanciniwriter
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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#getindie to the rescue!! Feeling slightly better, I peeled myself out of bed and found Sheafe Street Books, a gem of a little used bookstore tucked away on a Portsmouth side street. Curved glass AND a shop cat? Come on.

FernReader I love that place! 8y
Libby1 Is it so very wrong that I want to take a trip to New Hampshire to visit this bookshop? And meet Petunia the cat? 😻 8y
Ericmanciniwriter @Darcymatissa nice! Do you live in the area? 8y
Ericmanciniwriter @Libby1 not very wrong at all 🐱 8y
FernReader @Eamann in Maine, but I've visited and shopped there. Found a gem. Trying to remember what it was... 8y
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GoneFishing
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon

What goes around may come around, but it never ends up exactly the same place, you ever notice? Like a record on a turntable, all it takes is one groove's difference and the universe can be on into a whole 'nother song.

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Pat1287
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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This man is just a GENIUS...A marijuana-fueled trip of a detective novel that is just crazy enough to be hilarious but never tiresome, full of pop references...amazing...

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CaseyMoore
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

Took me awhile to finish this one, but glad I did. A solid weird detective story very much in the vein of a lot of California based PI stories.

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Mdufreelancing
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon

Feeling like crap because of a summer cold, so what better way to feel better than cracking open a new book! Hope to get a chapter in before I head to work.

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Mdufreelancing
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Date night to Barnes and Noble! Very excited to pick this up.

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Minervasbutler
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
Pickpick

This is generally classed as "Pynchon-lite" which suits me as Pynchon-heavy is normally too much for my poor brain. This one was a fun, accessible read.

jmkeene Yeah, I think Pynchon has two voices—the more accessible, like Inherent Vice and Bleeding Edge, and the tricky ones, like Gravity's Rainbow and Against the Day. I like both kinds, but the tricky ones are an investment!! 9y
Minervasbutler I did manage to finish GR a few years ago after many failed attempts. And I do kind of get why it's so highly regarded. But boy was it a struggle! 9y
15 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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Eshawn
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Bailedbailed

Ugh. I've been trying to read this book for a year. I can't do it. I don't know why. I got about a 100 pages in and just lost interest. 😞 I'm gonna watch the movie instead.

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kopetzj
Inherent Vice | Thomas Pynchon
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Pickpick

A hazy, smoked out ode to hard-boiled crime fiction that ranks with the best of them. What sets this one apart is the inherently decent Doc Sportello, a man just trying to do good in the paranoid-ridden streets of Los Angeles in 1970.