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.

People! You're all welcome to your opinions of Ulysses, but this isn't a good place for duelling. Getting bloodstains off a server is such a messy task.