LostWages

Too much about Celebrity angst

Revisado: 10-09-23

I frankly am not much interested in the celebrity cult around movie stars and for my taste there was too much about Peter Duke and his angst. I would have preferred more about family dynamics. I found Streep's performance superb!

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Mixed bag

Revisado: 01-21-23

I found the book most engaging when Hodge talked about her family, personal struggles and musical life. I think I understand her need to tie matters to the large scientific entities of time, relativity, and quantum mechanics but I found her reflections somewhat tedious to listen to. The book motivated me to listen once again (actually several times) to the Bach Chaconne for violin,
In light of her perhaps too detailed description of the work variation by variation. But I value the book for that alone.

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Pandemic relived

Revisado: 01-10-23

If you’d enjoy hearing about the early days of the pandemic, especially in New York City, then this book is for you. I tired of it after a while because I had read about it all in the news before.

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Truly engaging

Revisado: 12-27-22

Vivid, memorable characters create a truly engaging plot, while addressing issues of sexual assault, discrimination, and limitation. Though set in the 60s, situations still ring true for todays world. A few things require a willing suspension of disbelief, like the omniscient dog. And vile practices of the Catholic are held up for scrutiny— rightfully so. But overall the book is an entertaining, engrossing “read” or listen.

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Personal story interesting

Revisado: 12-08-22

Being an amateur musician, I was curious to read about a lifestyle I never aspired to. I skipped much of the rest. The love lives of the composers? Give me a break.

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Introspective career reflections

Revisado: 06-03-21

Strikes me as somewhat self indulgent angst. I don’t doubt that he is plagued with anxiety even in the face of a tremendously successful and highly regarded career. But I tired of his negativity. The piano playing, while most likely superb, was difficult to fully appreciate on iPhone speaker. Not his fault.

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Good points but very long and tedious

Revisado: 09-16-17

I found many portions enjoyable but too many threads went on and on and on. I often found myself thinking, okay I get it, now please move on. I feel
I gained a valid portrait of this women, surprised frankly about her extreme dependency on men and lovers. But she was one of the more enlightened autocrats of her time.

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Rather a tedious bore

Revisado: 04-02-16

I don't have much sympathy for the aristocratic snobbery and whining of these folk. I find all but Julia Child and her husband and James Beard really not very nice, self absorbed egotists, taken with their own self importance. Boo hoo. MFK Fisher goes to Arles in the cold of winter when all the fine restaurants are closed. Thank heavens the food culture has morphed.

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Brilliant, Funny Saga

Revisado: 05-28-15

Would you consider the audio edition of Bleeding Edge to be better than the print version?

Both print and audio versions have much to recommend them. With print, you can savor the language (Pynchon coins marvelous words), dwell on and reread particularly wonderful segments. Jeannie Berlin is terrific at bringing the story to life, with her accents for New Yorkese, Russian speakers, socialites, her African American secretary.

What other book might you compare Bleeding Edge to and why?

Pynchon's Inherent Vice. It's "born and bred" in California, with that culture a main focus. Bleeding Edge does similar for New York.

Have you listened to any of Jeannie Berlin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but she was "Aunt Rete" in the movie version of Inherent Vice. As soon as I saw and heard her in the movie, which I saw at the same time I was listening to Bleeding Edge, I knew the voice right away.

If you could rename Bleeding Edge, what would you call it?

Gabriel Ice's Folly

Any additional comments?

Pynchon is a brilliant writer, with a vast knowledge of many many subjects. HIs "riffs" on so many topics, like the one about the line jumper in New York City, vividly transport you to the scene and are riotously funny to boot. The scope of the book is huge and deals with multiple contemporary issues of internet use and abuse.

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