Steven C. Weisenburger

27. A Gravity's Rainbow Companion: Sources and Contexts for Pynchon's Novel, 2nd Edition by Steven Weisenburger
published: originally 1988, 2nd edition is from 2006
format: 400 page paperback
acquired: March 20 to help with GR
read: Apr 1 - May 22
rating: **** stars

There are other sources for help with GR, but I liked this one because it was crazy detailed, translated almost every foreign language bit and tried to decipher the meaning under every name and it just made me feel more comfortable. show more It also has little mini-summaries of each episode. I would read these before reading the episode (!)—even as I know they didn't really always capture what really happens in those episodes. This just helped reduce my stress of trying to figure out what was going on as I read.

The book suffers a bit on the big picture. I had to go to wikipedia to understand some critical plot elements. GR is abstruse, but Weisenburger doesn't capture everything and occasionally doesn't make any comment on major things. But, still, this is an impressive compilation. I was very happy to have it.

2016:
https://www.librarything.com/topic/220674#5595529 show less

Weisenburger provides an analysis, virtually line-by-line, of the dense collection of references and allusions crammed into Gravity’s Rainbow. If you’re more patient than I, you could save the book for a second reading but I get frustrated when a book is confusing me and Weisenburger frequently came to the rescue. If you are going to use the guide, and I would recommend it, be sure not to read about a section until you have finished it because there are plenty of spoilers. Read the show more introduction last of all.
Full review: http://www.26books.com/?p=549 show less

A page-by-age exegeis of Pynchon's classic novel. Great for historical and scientific details you missed. Recommended only for fans who get a kick out of rereading Gravity's Rainbow one paragraph at a time, but you know who you are.

Little else to add that others haven’t, suffice to say that you would be ill advised to tackle the tome that is Gravity’s Rainbow without it.