The reclusive author of The English Patient, the Pelican Brief and Uncle Vanya talks about life, love, and turning 58 in the year 2000.
strongsmell.com: So, read any good books lately?
Thomas Pynchon: Um. Not really. My buddy told me that The Client was totally the goods, but I just couldn't get into it.
smell: Oh, I liked that one. The bit with that dude in the car trying to gas himself until the little kid stops him was pretty cool.
TP: That was in The Client?
smell: Yeah, I'm pretty sure.
TP: Because I could have sworn that was from something else. You sure it's not from The Omen?
smell: Well, now that you mention it I'm not so sure. The Omen was the one with Gregory Peck, right?
TP: Oh no, it was fiction.
smell: I meant the movie. Wasn't Gregory Peck in the movie?
TP: What movie?
smell: The Omen.
TP: They made a movie of The Omen? That would be pretty cool if they ever did.
smell: --
TP: Well, I never saw it.
smell: Oh.
TP: --
smell: It had a pool table in it that had this totally baby-puke yellow coloured felt on it.
TP: Oh.
smell: It was neat.