I love the Divine Comedy (Paradiso the least, Puragatorio by far the most) but without patience and many many many footnotes, it is more interesting in concept than in reality.

I've read Inferno, and if there's a stronger word than "agree" on the footnotes part, that's where I stand. Unless you're an expert on who was who in Florence in Dante's era.

T-Rex fixes great works of fiction: [link]

For the Inferno, the concept of the punishments as contra passo is intriguing (same in Purgatorio, but with the added ability to change levels in order to ascend), but Fred Pete is totally correct. Without knowing who the hell was in power and the internecine struggles of Florentine life, the people themselves and the stories they tell are very meh.

I really like My Antonia, and Willa Cather in general.

I hated My Antonia. It seemed to be a book told entirely in summary rather than scene.

I know I read My Antonia. I think I read The Awakening. I remember almost nothing about either one. (I just looked up a summary of The Awakening to try and work out if I had or not. The ending sounds awfully familiar, so: probably.)

I also read Beloved & Macbeth & Handmaid's Tale. Those I remember.

I also hated The Awakening.

I don't think I liked Beloved, but I do love Macbeth and The Handmaid's Tale.

I hated My Antonia.

What?! Quit having wrong opinions.

Bored the crap out of me, man.

Bored the crap out of me, man.

But it's got plows and dried mushrooms and immigrant girls! I fail to see what's boring about that.

Oh man, I must have totally missed the dried mushrooms. I feel so deprived of an engaging reading experience.