Reading List Completists discussion

Jessica wrote: "There are moments where I'm interested in what I'm reading. And then other moments I read with the most awkward expression on my face. I'm still 20 pages away from the first goal.
Sigh.
I googled..."

I feel the same way Jessica. I am taking notes but I do that with most books anyway. I am reading this one in a normal way. If I find a passage boring I skim. I'm reading the footnotes in chunks rather than always flipping back and forth. I find the more you read it the easier it gets to understand. Just read it however you like. I think what's important is whatever you get from it. Hope you stay! :-)

Yeah - I am just reading it when I can and sometimes I focus and sometimes I skim. (obviously I am missing stuff based on some of my previous posts). But, that's just how it will have to be because I don't have extra time for notes, deep study, etc.

Thank you to both of you! I feel a lot better knowing I'm not alone. :)

I think this discussion is actually helping with pulling in some of the stuff we may be missing. If all of us discusses the parts that stuck with us, this thread will be our "notes" and it can help us keep up with everything!

I know the mention of howling fantods on here (which I missed the first time through) made it stick out to me when it came back up again!

I agree, Matthew! You guys are making this read very enjoyable!

The howling fantods will be back in more ways than one. The one footnote you don't want to miss is the one with the Mad Stork's movie bibliography (what the boys call their father--I forget when they start that...
So one of the Mad Stork's movies is called The Medusa v. The Odalisque--which is just a completely mad idea from a demented imagination, if you really think about it.

BTW, people have made illustrations and posters of the movies online if you get bored with reading--well, you have to read first to get what they're about.

I am almost through with part I. Does it pick up a little after this hump?

Is pledge a real thing tennis players use? During all tennis scenes now portrayed in the book...I smell furniture polish lol.

Jessica wrote: "I am almost through with part I. Does it pick up a little after this hump?

Is pledge a real thing tennis players use? During all tennis scenes now portrayed in the book...I smell furniture polish ..."

I can't say "pick up" are the right words. It continues to have its highs and lows, but I think the fact that I am getting used the writing and story is helping. I made it through the "Part II" section much faster than the "Part I" section.

Concerning the Pledge - and I guess this could be a spoiler, but it is more of just a side oddity than anything - there is a part coming up for you (at least I don't think you have gotten to it yet) where one of the characters collects sheaths of skin that have peeled off (including faces) after the Pledge basically petrified the outer layer of the skin.

I hope you were not getting ready to eat!

Lol! I'm good. I was the kid that peeled glue off her fingers in elementary school so it's humorous more than it is gross.

I just now got to part II. Severe jag for me as well. You are not alone.

I am encouraged by the fact you guys are sticking it out. It isn't an easy book to get through...in fact there's not much like it out there at all.