I have to admit that I attempted Ulysses on my own once(because it was a banned book) and I had no idea that it was a Thing that people did for years, sometimes. What I got from it is that I thought there were bits that I thought sounded cool. Is that more or less intellectual than not reading it? I've never attempted Moby Dick, though it's one of David Simon's great favorites. The heft discouraged me a little, I have to admit.

I have to admit that I attempted Ulysses on my own once(because it was a banned book) and I had no idea that it was a Thing that people did for years, sometimes. What I got from it is that I thought there were bits that I thought sounded cool. Is that more or less intellectual than not reading it? I've never attempted Moby Dick, though it's one of David Simon's great favorites. The heft discouraged me a little, I have to admit.

A fair or a festival, perhaps? I was thinking of "Araby" when I mentioned Joyce's shorter works. It's a delight to read even if the mood is very somber.

Yeah, that's the one! I don't recall liking that one or seeing the point of it.

I await your apology, sir.

I'll save the quip and just tell you that you won't get one.

gibberish" is a very blunt way of putting forth an opinion (certainly blunter than Buffistas typically are)

Uh. I must be subscribed to different threads than you are.

But that's neither here nor there.

I think connie's comment was ill-timed, which she has admitted.

But I also think she deserves an apology.

But I also think she deserves an apology.

See above.

I think Connie's initial comment was obnoxious, Hec's response rude, and they should both take it to email so the rest of us can get back to talking about books.

Well, I can at least take some comfort from this shameful episode in the fact that we are at our rudest over literature, and not, for example, Britney Spears' tube socks.