More Stoppard/Real Thing trivia: When I lived in Boston, I saw Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close get out of a cab together in Harvard Square while they were doing the American premiere of that play.

Real Thing trivia: When I lived in Boston, I saw Jeremy Irons and Glenn Close get out of a cab together in Harvard Square while they were doing the American premiere of that play.

I bet that was a kick-ass version of the play. I wish I'd seen them playing Henry and Annie. I'd have loved to see them do the bit in Act 2, scene 5, where they're discussing the idea of writers and what makes good writing.

re: Childcraft.

We had, what I believe to be, a 70s version (rainbow colors on the side). It was pretty well used, but mostly the younger kid stuff as we had lost interest as we got older. I found a 1945 printing of them that is kinda art deco looking and I love. It was $25 at an antique store.

Jilli-- we do seem to be opposites.

I was trying to think of something else to recommend but the only thing that comes to mind is "A Rose for Emily" which is a short story. I think it's Faulkner, I'm not sure.

Dammit, someone here has to own up to being an actual smartyhead!

I will. I think most of us here are, but most of us are also painfully aware of our perceived shortcomings in areas that matter to us. But isn't that really the point? That if one loves something and that field matters to one (particularly in a field as vast and far-reaching as Western Lit is, not to mention literature the world over), that one feels like a grasshopper at the base of a mountain - overwhelmed by the immensity of the task, but eager to try.

Have you read or seen Arcadia? Lovely language.

Mmm. I love Arcadia, and hope to direct it someday. I enjoy most of Stoppard's work, with the notable exception of The Invention Of Love (which puts me a direct odds with Betsy, among others). The Fringe show I'm directing has sort of a Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead feel, and it's quite fun.

Wow you lot have been up to very much.

I disagree with everyone!* So there!

* except maybe JZ

when are you coming home and why aren't you home already?

Isn't Hec just the cutest thing?

"Harry Belten and the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto" by Barry Targan. Anyone who creates anything but doubts their talent and worthiness must read this story. A guy who works at a hardware store takes up the violin and his dream is to play the Mendelssohn with a real professional orchestra. His determination is polite and reasonable and good natured and utterly, utterly implacable.

The Joyce short story I mentioned many many posts ago is "Clay." Does anyone know it? It baffles me. I understand the events that happened, but I have no idea what the point is.

I was trying to think of something else to recommend but the only thing that comes to mind is "A Rose for Emily" which is a short story. I think it's Faulkner, I'm not sure.

I can't remember who it's by, either. But it is a good story.

Really?!?! I figured he was named after some early medieval king or other.

I didn't know about there being a god-king whatsis by the name of Clovis until a few years ago, actually.

I hardly ever run into someone who reads Saki for fun. Isn't he delicious? He has this sort of dark thread under the wit, which pops up in things like "Sredni Vashtar" and that story about Pan the title of which is escaping me at the moment.

My dad got me hooked on Saki when I was about 9, by reading the story about the open window to me. Mind you, I didn't understand most of what was going on in the stories, but I loved the language in them. Saki's work has only gotten better as I've gotten older, thank goodness.

(Oh, and obligatory Goth-by-way-of-Saki tangent: the band Faith and the Muse has a track called "Srendi Vashtar" on their latest CD, and it is swoon-worthy.)

I disagree with everyone!* So there!

* except maybe JZ

makes out with Rio

Hey, quit making out with Rio!

I was trying to think of something else to recommend but the only thing that comes to mind is "A Rose for Emily" which is a short story. I think it's Faulkner, I'm not sure.

Definitely, famously Faulkner. And Goth as all get out.