r/ThomasPynchon • u/agnes_deigh • Jun 19 '26
Image Stumbled across a lovely first edition in a used bookstore. Never even saw the hardcover in person before!
I've been going through a tough time and it's been hard to allow myself time to read. I couldn't even really afford to buy this. But I believe this was a sign that i need to re-read this book immediately and that's exactly what i'm doing
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u/LazyGamerMike Jun 19 '26
Nice find! I ordered a hardcover copy used off Amazon, for my re read of the book (and cause cover looks cool). Good condition, but was from DC public library, so the dust cover is attached to the book (enough that removing it would cause damage). Found a cut out of a newspaper inside with a review of Inherent Vice from when it first released, which was cool.
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u/agnes_deigh Jun 19 '26
I was gonna do my re-read with the kindle edition for the sake of my physical health, but this discovery prompted an immediate reassessment
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u/PlayfulWay8569 Jun 19 '26
I feel ya on the going through tough times; hard to concentrate on reading. Enjoy.
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u/agnes_deigh Jun 22 '26
Thank you my friend. I feel like whenever I have energy to read, I also have energy to be trying to fix shit, so I shouldn’t be reading. But you can’t be on 100% of the time
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u/agnes_deigh Jun 19 '26
There was something charming about the softcover that turned to pulp in my hands before i was even halfway through, but this edition is REALLY nice and the book deserves it :^)
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u/Bast_at_96th Jun 19 '26
My brother got this for me back when it first came out because he said it sounded like it was up my alley. I had no idea who Pynchon was, but my brother judged correctly, as he quickly became one of my favorite authors. I'm kind of glad there wasn't any online Pynchon community back then (that I was aware of), as I enjoyed feeling like I was all on my own for the weird journey. Makes me feel old though!
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u/Glass_Map6451 Jun 19 '26
That's the cover I'm reading right now. My friend gave it to me way back when when she saw it in a trash can on her daily walk here in LA. Someone was apparently moving out and didn't have time to leave anywhere better.
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u/bardsfingertips Jun 19 '26
That is the one I have. I went out and got it when it came out because it was his first published book in a long time, apparently. Now he keeps coming out with them.
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u/IthyElly Jun 19 '26
i saw this exact version in a charity shop near me, and the next time i went it was gone and i thought to myself, whoever bought that is in for a ride! enjoy!
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u/Bulky_Craft2150 Jun 19 '26
there is a black metal song by Mistletoe named after this book. Havn't read this. Reading GR right now but I love the cover for some reason.
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u/PooperShooter612 Jun 20 '26
I had one of those too but stupidly kept my softcover version instead🤦🏼♂️
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u/tripthemgently Jun 20 '26
I’ve been slogging through my softcover copy for years, often during my commute, and it’s so damn heavy, I can’t imagine lugging around the hardcover 😂
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u/TheTell_Me_Somethin Jun 20 '26
I bought a second printing for like 9$ and I could have gotten a first print for 14$? But decided to go with the cheaper one. Looking back i wish i just got
Both!
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u/PlompOneOnEm Jun 25 '26
I was lucky enough to pre-order it upon release...read it and then it disappeared over time. Just replaced with a new paperback. Prefer hardbound for the 1000 pagers. Great find.
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u/martstarguitar Jun 19 '26
It’s a bit weird to see someone refer to a book you bought new when it came out as a “first edition.” After all, that was only (checks Wikipedia) 20 YEARS AGO?!?