I’m mainly reviewing this book to boost it’s one star rating given by the only other review at time of writing. This book is not meant to be an easy read. It’s a book that you’ll read a few times and only ever partially understand. There is a whole website dedicated to its references. The way to read it is to let it wash over you, taking in what you can, and ENJOY THE RIDE. There are little ditties along the way, a psychic octopus, extreme details about things you’re not sure might have happened or not in the Second World War. A lot of research went into it, and it isn’t straightforward. It’s layered and confusing and complex. But overall it’s beautiful and strange, and it’s the result of one persons deep thought, research and inventiveness. So there is method in the madness. You just have to let it breathe.

Probably Pynchon’s Magnum Opus: a spiralling tale of war-time paranoia and secretive experimentation, psychics and sewage, rockets and sexuality, dogs, soldiers, spies, power and its brokers and their systems and their tricks. As deliriant and mesmerising as nothing else, Pynchon never holds your hand, throwing at you endless references — from academic rabbit holes to jokes childish and crude and profound all at once. The story weaves through time and space like a missile, engineered to ballistic perfection, interspersed with Pynchon’s wild humour and delightful little made-up songs. Don’t let its length or reputation for complexity put you off, go for a ride through Pynchonville alongside one of the weirdest and most rewarding writers of the last century. Keep notes if you like, but don’t worry about getting lost, enjoy the supersonic detours and never neglect your banana breakfast.

Although this book is meant to be a classic, the difficult writing style and totally random story loops make it a difficult and unenjoyable adventure. From a pure technique and use of descriptive language point of view I am sure it has some merit as literature, but an enjoyable, easy to read / understand book, it is not!! I very rarely dread reading a book, but this one was beyond my mental capacity... necessitating continuous re-reading of sections to work out what was going on. Many hundreds of pages of confusion later, I really cannot recommend... Gets slightly better as Part 2 begins, so might be worth just reading from there :)