Tom Pynchon's Liquor Cabinet
June 22, 2014 7:50 AM Subscribe
Every drink in every(*) Pynchon novel. List of drinks by book.
* well, the earlier Pynchon books. Mason & Dixon, Against the Day, Inherent Vice and Bleeding Edge are "coming soon..."
Bonus: How to play the game of Whales' Tails which Tyrone Slothrop plays at the Casino Hermann Goering in Book II of Gravity's Rainbow.
A-and: how to make a FICKT NICHT MIT DEM RAKETEMENSCH cocktail.
* well, the earlier Pynchon books. Mason & Dixon, Against the Day, Inherent Vice and Bleeding Edge are "coming soon..."
Bonus: How to play the game of Whales' Tails which Tyrone Slothrop plays at the Casino Hermann Goering in Book II of Gravity's Rainbow.
A-and: how to make a FICKT NICHT MIT DEM RAKETEMENSCH cocktail.
I'm going to guess he'll skip Pinky in Against The Day.
posted by zamboni at 8:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by zamboni at 8:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
One of my favorite things to think about is the idea that Pynchon is an actual time traveler*, and that The Crying Of Lot 49 is about the internet.
And Napa Valley wine is mentioned in it despite the book being written a decade before the "Judgment Of Paris" that signalled California wine's arrival in the mainstream.
Yup. Time traveler.
*I do not actually believe this is literally true. Mostly.
posted by Sara C. at 9:32 AM on June 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
And Napa Valley wine is mentioned in it despite the book being written a decade before the "Judgment Of Paris" that signalled California wine's arrival in the mainstream.
Yup. Time traveler.
*I do not actually believe this is literally true. Mostly.
posted by Sara C. at 9:32 AM on June 22, 2014 [5 favorites]
This just reminded me anew of what a weird non-Pynchony collection Slow Learner is.
posted by shakespeherian at 9:37 AM on June 22, 2014
posted by shakespeherian at 9:37 AM on June 22, 2014
I don't understand the point of this. Is it a Pynchon worship thing? An alcoholic thing? Some kind of blog-to-book attempt? I don't know why it exists.
posted by naju at 10:09 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by naju at 10:09 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't understand the point of this.
Why should things be easy to understand?posted by zamboni at 10:19 AM on June 22, 2014 [7 favorites]
Is it a Pynchon worship thing?
Pretty much. Because he appears so rarely as himself (in person, yes, but also in print) there is no detail so insignificant as to escape the notice of devoted pynchonauts. The title of Bleeding Edge generated hundreds of speculative posts on pynchon-l.
Me, I'd rather eat from Mason & Dixon than drink from Gravity's Rainbow. Freshly infus'd Coffee, fresh-fried Dough-Nuts roll'd in sugar, glaz'd Chestnuts, Buns, Fritters, Crullers, Tarts. Everything is dipped in brandy or rolled in sugar or stuffed with jam. What's there to snack on in GR, mayonnaise flavoured candy?
I seem to recall the distinction between grape people and grain people recurs in Mason & Dixon as shorthand for the difference in their dispositions. Cherrycoke drinks brandy.
posted by Lorin at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [13 favorites]
Pretty much. Because he appears so rarely as himself (in person, yes, but also in print) there is no detail so insignificant as to escape the notice of devoted pynchonauts. The title of Bleeding Edge generated hundreds of speculative posts on pynchon-l.
Me, I'd rather eat from Mason & Dixon than drink from Gravity's Rainbow. Freshly infus'd Coffee, fresh-fried Dough-Nuts roll'd in sugar, glaz'd Chestnuts, Buns, Fritters, Crullers, Tarts. Everything is dipped in brandy or rolled in sugar or stuffed with jam. What's there to snack on in GR, mayonnaise flavoured candy?
I seem to recall the distinction between grape people and grain people recurs in Mason & Dixon as shorthand for the difference in their dispositions. Cherrycoke drinks brandy.
posted by Lorin at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [13 favorites]
What's there to snack on in GR
other than bananas!
posted by Lorin at 10:31 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
other than bananas!
posted by Lorin at 10:31 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I don't understand the point of this.
Why should things be easy to understand?
Exactly. This is Pynchon we're talking about here.
posted by Novus at 10:38 AM on June 22, 2014
Why should things be easy to understand?
Exactly. This is Pynchon we're talking about here.
posted by Novus at 10:38 AM on June 22, 2014
Inherent Vice will be a very long list.
posted by shakespeherian at 11:01 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by shakespeherian at 11:01 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
There may be more drinkers of a greater variety of beverages in Against the Day. A 15 minute survey reveals grappa (seven mentions), pineapple Marquises, trois-six chasers, local gin fizzes known as Casanovas, Ramos Gin fizzes, gin fizzes, some herbal grappa called kadjula, homemade Dimyat and Misket, ouzo, maguey brandy, some sort of interesting local moonshine known as pox, beer, orange juice and tequila, California Champagne, vermouth, low-priced wine, jug whiskey, Sillery from the bottle, red liquor, red whiskey, home-brewed beer, pear wine, local beer, some horrible fermented potato mash, Monopole de la Maison, a horrible combination of porter and champagne known as "Velvet," and opiated highballs of British cough syrup and aerated water from a portable seltzogene.
posted by Lorin at 11:09 AM on June 22, 2014 [9 favorites]
posted by Lorin at 11:09 AM on June 22, 2014 [9 favorites]
Lorin: "What's there to snack on in GR
other than bananas!"
Disgusting English candy!
(Here's All the Food In Thomas Pynchon's Novels from Bon Appetite)
posted by chavenet at 11:14 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
other than bananas!"
Disgusting English candy!
(Here's All the Food In Thomas Pynchon's Novels from Bon Appetite)
posted by chavenet at 11:14 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
I'm still a little bewildered, but thanks to Lorin's comments I'm now realizing there are entire cosmologies of alcoholic and gustatory substances at play within the Pynchonverse.
posted by naju at 11:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
posted by naju at 11:26 AM on June 22, 2014 [2 favorites]
naju: "I'm still a little bewildered, but thanks to Lorin's comments I'm now realizing there are entire cosmologies of alcoholic and gustatory substances at play within the Pynchonverse."
You're going to be gobsmacked when we start talking about the dope.
posted by chavenet at 11:41 AM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
You're going to be gobsmacked when we start talking about the dope.
posted by chavenet at 11:41 AM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
I'm now realizing there are entire cosmologies of alcoholic and gustatory substances at play within the Pynchonverse.
There are entire cosmologies of basically EVERYTHING in Pynchon. That's why there is an entire wiki website set up with page by page explanations of references that seem random but entirely are NOT.
posted by hippybear at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
There are entire cosmologies of basically EVERYTHING in Pynchon. That's why there is an entire wiki website set up with page by page explanations of references that seem random but entirely are NOT.
posted by hippybear at 11:47 AM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
Slowest drinking game ever, read Gravity's Rainbow out loud with friends, when a drink is described, drink.
posted by sammyo at 12:00 PM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by sammyo at 12:00 PM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]
also at some point it seemed like every Pynchon book had a talking dog. what's with that.
I'm re-reading Against the Day, and contrary to what I remembered from the first few times through the book, Pugnax, the dog, isn't actually a talking dog. Unlike the Learned English Dog from M&D, who spoke English, Pugnax only says sez stuff like "Rrrf, rrff."--normal canine utterances. Though he does understand English, and reads avidly. (Henry James, etc.)
Anyway, more to the point, Pugnax drinks vintage Champagne.
posted by Zerowensboring at 12:53 PM on June 22, 2014 [4 favorites]
I'm re-reading Against the Day, and contrary to what I remembered from the first few times through the book, Pugnax, the dog, isn't actually a talking dog. Unlike the Learned English Dog from M&D, who spoke English, Pugnax only
Anyway, more to the point, Pugnax drinks vintage Champagne.
posted by Zerowensboring at 12:53 PM on June 22, 2014 [4 favorites]
Me, I'd rather eat from Mason & Dixon than drink from Gravity's Rainbow. Freshly infus'd Coffee, fresh-fried Dough-Nuts roll'd in sugar, glaz'd Chestnuts, Buns, Fritters, Crullers, Tarts. Everything is dipped in brandy or rolled in sugar or stuffed with jam.
Don't forget the ketjap and pizza
posted by grobstein at 9:00 PM on June 22, 2014
Don't forget the ketjap and pizza
posted by grobstein at 9:00 PM on June 22, 2014
Mason & Dixon, Against the Day, Inherent Vice and Bleeding Edge are "coming soon..."
Bleeding Edge is complete. It's the book that inspired the project.
Inherent Vice will be a very long list.
Yes. I was disappointed.
Also, Against the Day is "coming less soon"
BOOO.
Disgusting English candy!
Yeah. Screw the drinks. I want someone to hunt down and review the candies from Gravity's Rainbow.
"You've taken the last of my Marmalade Surprises!"
posted by mrgrimm at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2014 [4 favorites]
Bleeding Edge is complete. It's the book that inspired the project.
Inherent Vice will be a very long list.
Yes. I was disappointed.
Also, Against the Day is "coming less soon"
BOOO.
Disgusting English candy!
Yeah. Screw the drinks. I want someone to hunt down and review the candies from Gravity's Rainbow.
"You've taken the last of my Marmalade Surprises!"
posted by mrgrimm at 10:18 PM on June 22, 2014 [4 favorites]
I just finished Gravity's Rainbow a few weeks ago, and that candy scene is amazing. Ever since I've been trying to find ways to fit "alkaloid desolation" into everyday conversation (or was it quotidian discourse?).
And, to second mrgrimm BOOO to Against the Day "coming less soon".
posted by ztdavis at 10:42 PM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
And, to second mrgrimm BOOO to Against the Day "coming less soon".
posted by ztdavis at 10:42 PM on June 22, 2014 [1 favorite]
I just finished Gravity's Rainbow a few weeks ago, and that candy scene is amazing.
I'm pretty sure that anyone who makes it that far into GR will start to understand Pynchon and be a fan for life. It's one of the few truly transparent comedic scenes (M&D has a bunch but they do require a feel for the language), and it has always made me wonder why he doesn't, since it's obvious he can, toss a few into each of his books.
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:57 AM on June 23, 2014
I'm pretty sure that anyone who makes it that far into GR will start to understand Pynchon and be a fan for life. It's one of the few truly transparent comedic scenes (M&D has a bunch but they do require a feel for the language), and it has always made me wonder why he doesn't, since it's obvious he can, toss a few into each of his books.
posted by OHenryPacey at 9:57 AM on June 23, 2014
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posted by angrycat at 8:03 AM on June 22, 2014 [3 favorites]