But you can just not read them, right?

You'd think. But I have this terrible problem with books ending. I get locked into some Newtonian inertia - the reader in motion stays in motion - and before I know it I've read the first page of questions. They are usually annoying enough to jolt me out of the inertia.

In books without questions I read the acknowledgements, about the author, any adverts, and the back cover blurb.

Tolkein earned my undying love (in so many ways) with those meaty appendices.

In casual reading news, I just this instant finished The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril. It's basically one big in-joke about the pulps and pulp writers. The author has some great ideas, but the prose doesn't fly.

what the hell is the point of The Crying of Lot 49 ?

It's to provide Corwood's next band a bunch of songs by The Paranoids.

Honestly, Cor, doing a gig of nothing but Pynchon songs would pack a house in Austin.

In books without questions I read the acknowledgements, about the author, any adverts, and the back cover blurb.

What? No love for Notes About The Typeface?

No love for Notes About The Typeface?

I am a font ho. I read that first. Sometimes I create my own Questions for Discussion Groups about the typeface choice.

Honestly, Cor, doing a gig of nothing but Pynchon songs would pack a house in Austin.

That's a great idea! Our current cover project is working out the first side of The Who Sell Out, commercials and all, with the Distant Seconds (two of whom were in that Kinks cover band I used to play in). We're all playing at a Who Hoot night next month. My band is taking "Armenia, City In The Sky" and "I Can See For Miles". Up for grabs are "Tattoo" and "Our Love Was".

Up for grabs are "Tattoo" and "Our Love Was".

Somebody should do "Early Morning, Cold Taxi." The only decent song Roger ever wrote. Speaking of non-Pete songs, I'd love to see you singing "My Wife." Preferably with your wife and Sphere in the audience.

(two of whom were in that Kinks cover band I used to play in).

Incidentally, in SF there's an all-female Kinks cover band. The Minks.

No love for Notes About The Typeface?

Everyone should embrace the colophon.

Everyone should embrace the colophon.

::squeezes midsection::

::no, wait that's my colon::

::which if resected would be Teppy's reason for living::

"Excuse me, Mrs. Robinson. I have to be going now. This conversation's getting a little strange."

I read Animal Farm early enough that I had no idea what the metaphor was, but it was the most upsetting fucking book I'd ever read.

Somebody should do "Early Morning, Cold Taxi." The only decent song Roger ever wrote.

That is a good song. We don't have the wherewithal or time limit to go past side one, though, especially into the bonus tracks.

Speaking of non-Pete songs, I'd love to see you singing "My Wife." Preferably with your wife and Sphere in the audience.

Now you're just trying to get me in trouble.

OT: The Job discussion at the end of the last natter thread made me hope that David Maine will take that story on for his next Biblical novel.