V. (Perennial Classics) | 
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| Editorial Review / Publisher's Information:
Product Description
The wild, macabre tale of the twentieth century and of two men -- one looking for something he has lost, the other with nothing much to lose -- and "V.," the unknown woman of the title.
Amazon.com Review
Having just been released from the Navy, Benny Profane is content to lead a slothful existence with his friends, where the only real ambition is to perfect the art of "schlemihlhood," or being a dupe, and where "responsibility" is a dirty word. Among his pals--called the Whole Sick Crew--is Slab, an artist who can't seem to paint anything other than cheese danishes. But Profane's life changes dramatically when he befriends Stencil, an active ambitious young man with an intriguing mission--to find out the identity of a woman named V., who knew Stencil's father during the war, but who suddenly and mysteriously disappeared.
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Customer Reviews:
• An Excellent First Novel 27 October, 2007
I will start by saying that this book is not for everyone. At times challenging and nearly annoying, at times compelling and awe-inspiring, this book requires the reader's complete investment, rewarding him or her with some of the most unique and interesting fiction ever written. Chapter 3 ("in which Stencil, a quick-change artist, does eight impersonations"), chapter 5 ("she hangs on the western wall"), and the epilogue are some of the finest chapters of fiction I have ever read. Pynchon shows off his staggering and detailed knowledge of obscure history and diverse topics (such as the intricacies of a nose-job operation) throughout the novel - it is mind-blowing how much he fits into it. Certainly, being his first novel, V. does have its flaws, such as the dull or difficult sections, the ludicrous character names and lack of character development (with the exception of perhaps Profane and a few others), and the initially amusing but eventually annoying Three-Stooges-worthy slapstick moments. Pynchon, however, is clearly a very talented, unique, and influential author (you can clearly see his influence on other authors such as David Foster Wallace, with his discursiveness and hundreds of characters). I will definitely be reading more of his books.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2JWCXS9U8DVSP
• The Best Of Pynchon 19 November, 2008
Pynchon's "V." is still, to my mind, one of the very best of the master's works. Yes, it's the first, and yes, "Gravity's Rainbow" blows much of it away with its monster expansiveness, its staggering detail, its Nabokovian command of language. Yet, for some reason, I like "V." above the later Pynchon work. I find myself still dipping into various chapters, set over all the world, as the history of the twentieth century is written and rewritten. Even the characters seem more interesting than those in "Gravity's Rainbow": Benny Profane is symbolic of a whole era in American life, post WWII. He moves, he lives, things happen to him. And the quest for "V." herself in all her manifold appearances and disappearances is really, really good. I'll always need this novel, always come back to it for nourishment, for some understanding of that impossible to understand last century.
-Tom Maremaa, Author of the Forthcoming Metal Heads: A Novel from Kunati Books in Spring 2009
- Reviewed by customer ID: A16WLRPGJLVANE
• Iii. Not V. 11 February, 2008
I realize most reviewers have given 4 or 5 stars, but really - 492 pages to tell what could have been told with the same literary tricks in half that. This is another book that proves the point that just because something can be done - it doesn't have to be done.
I enjoyed the book a lot. The humor, history, characters, scenery, more characters all add up to a fun if challenging read. I just couldn't see the need for the droning endless descriptions that added nothing to the story.
I'll read those he wrote later with anxious anticipation.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1GCZ07XRJX858
• Thank God For The Last Chapter 16 May, 2008
I like this book. After I read the last chapter I loved the thing. It's not the most compelling read as you're going through, and half of the time I was asking myself "why keep reading?"...
Then I finished the book (more importantly the last chapter) and it was as if a switch had been flipped in my head, the whole book is wonderfully collaborative and makes complete sense. The only problem was getting to that particular point.
It is quite the opposite of what happens when I usually read a book, you don't want it to end, and when it does you're disappointed.
I sincerely wanted this book to end while I was reading it, and once I was finished I wanted to re-read it because it was so refreshing and it just makes sense. If it weren't for the end I'd have given it three stars, and if it weren't for the rest I'd have given it five, go figure.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3L8QKAKXOTAFD
• Beautifully Written, But Who Cares? 06 October, 2008
On almost every page I encountered passages of beautiful, witty, amazingly written prose. But, after about 200 pages, I just couldn't care less about any of the characters, or what happened to them. I am a well-educated person and have read most of the classic "western canon". I appreciate many "modern" authors like Marquez, Roth, Walker Percy, Bellow, Updike, Joseph Heller, etc. But I find that my life is too short to persevere with Mr. Pynchon when I neither like or dislike the characters and couldn't care less what happens to them. Based on my experience with this book I have shied away from Delillo since they are always compared similarly. All you guys who believe Pynchon is a great 20th century author can have him.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A2HI7ZDSJNRWAT
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