I can't really imagine it being anybody's favorite novel.

Hah, it's the favorite of the person who recommended it to me when I moved to this neighborhood. I had never heard of it before.

It makes more sense that I like it if you know that Zola is my favorite French author. It's like someone said "L'Assommoir but put it in San Francisco, and also make it a western."

It is not my favorite favorite, but it is certainly up there. Without a doubt, it has the best ending of a novel I've ever read. I've wanted someone to take on an adaptation for years.

Have you been to the McTeague's bar? Which reproduces the famous tooth sign from the book.

Of course! It's just a couple of blocks from here. Sadly, it has been converted into McTiki's for the pandemic, but I am hoping that is just a temporary COVID blip. I was just noting to the Math Greek last week that the tooth was badly in need of regilding.

Not my favorite novel, but I did like it! I think it was my favorite in my class “Post Civil War American Literature”. I also can never remember the title, to the point where I actually have an apple note that just says “McTeague”. But I also enjoy Thomas Hardy, and people tend to hate him.

Since I just googled the class, and it looks like a lot of schools use that title from civil war to present, but this class ended before WWI, So Twain, Crane, Dreiser, James. And no poetry. No Cather, but I like Cather.

No Cather, but I like Cather.

My Antonia isn't my FAVORITE novel, but it might be top ten.

Definitely my favorite assigned in high school.

Since I just googled the class, and it looks like a lot of schools use that title from civil war to present, but this class ended before WWI, So Twain, Crane, Dreiser, James. And no poetry. No Cather, but I like Cather.

I bet McTeague might have been the favorite for a lot of people in that class.

Definitely my favorite assigned in high school.

I'm still mad I had to discover Cather on my own much later.

Once upon a time, in a, um, concert hall, far far away ....

I had such a crappy day yesterday doing my taxes that I decided it was finally time to watch The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Well, that, and it's expiring from the Criterion Channel this month.

Technically more grotesque than gory, but the grotesquerie is profound and disturbing. It's more unsettling than vomitous if that makes sense.

This description was dead on, Hec. Glad I watched it though; it's nice to see where all those horror tropes came from. And it was perfect timing for my mood.

A company in Texas once got an award for their name - Tex's Chain Saw Manicure (landscaping, lawn care, etc.).