Talk:Vineland

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Assessment comments The following comments were left by the assessors: (edit · refresh) classed as Start mainly as there are no heading breakdowns to the article and little on the plot or characters. Needs work on these things. :: Kevinalewis : (Talk Page)/(Desk) 08:45, 10 August 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Location and meaning of Vineland

I am curious why the article asserts that the city of Vineland is located in the Anderson Valley. I got the impression reading the novel that Vineland was in northern Mendocino county. Pot production is a much larger part of the local economy in northern Mendocino than southern (at least now), and frequent references are made to characters going north to cities in Humboldt county (like Eureka). I don't recall any references to places in southern Mendocino. It seems clear that Vineland is also the name of the county (i.e. Mendocino county) in the novel, in addition to being a city. There is a list of northern California counties early on in the text, which includes Vineland but notably omits Mendocino.

As for the meaning of the name Vineland, it seems more likely to me that it is a reference to blackberry and wild grape vines (ubiquitous in Mendocino) than vineyards. There are no references to wine production anywhere in the novel, but a memorable discussion of blackberries at the family reunion at the end. Additionally, wine production tapers out in southern Mendocino county, whereas the action of the novel, in my opinion, would seem to be further north. Of course, Pynchon was surely aware of the similarity to Vinland as well.

Cheers, Justinleif 18:32, 8 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Comparison with The Grapes of Wrath

I read this book immediately after reading The Grapes of Wrath, so I'm aware I may not hold a NPOV. Nonetheless I was struck by the similarities between the two books - references to the fecundity of the landscape, suppression of the labour unions, a population in flux. Would it be appropriate to draw such a comparison within the main article?

Would appreciate some advice --Arpley88 22:50, 21 September 2007 (UTC)