OMG, that is genius:

"“Who did he dissect?”

“Harold.”

“Betsy’s husband? Jesus. So this is why Harold was killed. To produce this . . . ‘report.’ ”

(Nods.) “This is why his life was taken from him.”

(Long pause.)

“Well, at least it has a cover sheet.”

“Yeah. The plastic’s a nice touch.”"

Hertzberg is one of the few commentators whom I actually trust: he doesn't pull things out of the air. Just out of curiosity, what did you think of the Obama cover?

We seem to have similar tastes.... bit "New Yorker" fan, also. Adam Gopnik is my favorite writer on their staff-- very witty while being simultaneously genuine.

Hmm.... Nabokov made up lots of stuff in very semi-autobiographical books-- Speak, Memory is half-fiction and half-truth. I suppose it's the intend of the manipulation that makes the difference.

That's very interesting about the James Frey social experiment/faux biography-- might have to check it out next time I'm at Barnes and Noble. My knowledge of current books extends up to Thomas Pychon, to be honest; if it's still considered good after 40 years, then I know it's almost certainly worth it (though I do try to keep up with the New York Times Book Reviews).

I adore Dante's Inferno--- absolutely beautiful description of hell, and with several really moving stories of its residents. I also loved Milton's Paradise Lost even more-- absolutely genius humanization of the Devil. I haven't gotten through much of Beowulf-- it read too much like a "standard" warrior epic in the first few pages, and I dropped it. Micheal Crichton, when he was good (back in the 80's), did do an awesome "historical account" of the real expedition that inspired Beowulf-- it's called Eaters of the Dead, and it's great fun.

Again, a very educational post.

Picked up a copy of Gilgamesh the other day (the Steve Mitchell "translation")-- very interesting, especially with the Proto-Noah story.

Only on SLU do I learn such valuable lessons.

Now I just need to learn how to curse in sign language.

Woot! Why, thank you!

"Description of ASL sign for "F*ck": The right 'V' hand, palm facing down, repeatedly hits the left 'V' sign, in a rhythmic accelerating manner than hopefully ends with happy tiredness and a warm fuzzy feeling. Or speeds up and ends in a violent, crashing manner."

I am so using this!!!!!!!