I dunno, I think @avclub-17fc821acf8201df4d32d05fb05d0d4a:disqus has a point.  Far be it for me to question the depth/breadth of your reading, internet commenter that I don't know from Adam, but looking at your list of 'difficult' literature above… There's nothing difficult particularly difficult about Hugo, for…

I dunno, I think @avclub-17fc821acf8201df4d32d05fb05d0d4a:disqus has a point.  Far be it for me to question the depth/breadth of your reading, internet commenter that I don't know from Adam, but looking at your list of 'difficult' literature above… There's nothing difficult particularly difficult about Hugo, for…

It's possible to make objective claims, though.  I love IJ, but we can say that the early dialect chapters are objectively bad, as is the corny reveal of what's actually on the tape.  It's still a great book, but a flawed one.

It's possible to make objective claims, though.  I love IJ, but we can say that the early dialect chapters are objectively bad, as is the corny reveal of what's actually on the tape.  It's still a great book, but a flawed one.

Most people will tell you that The Recognitions is the place to start, and it all gets more difficult from there.  I had the opposite experience: J.R. and A Frolic of His Own were a hoot, and I found The Recognitions so turgid I didn't make it halfway through.  Agape Agape is more advanced Gaddis, though… It's short…

Most people will tell you that The Recognitions is the place to start, and it all gets more difficult from there.  I had the opposite experience: J.R. and A Frolic of His Own were a hoot, and I found The Recognitions so turgid I didn't make it halfway through.  Agape Agape is more advanced Gaddis, though… It's short…

Shoring up support outside the major cities.  Russia's a lot like the US in the urban/rural divide, except that a lot of its urban areas vote like rural areas, so… Basically only a handful of places are critical of Putin in any substantial way.  Demonizing Pussy Riot helps bring out all the support for 'real'…

Shoring up support outside the major cities.  Russia's a lot like the US in the urban/rural divide, except that a lot of its urban areas vote like rural areas, so… Basically only a handful of places are critical of Putin in any substantial way.  Demonizing Pussy Riot helps bring out all the support for 'real'…

Minor point: The Three Sisters is his only major play he didn't consider a comedy.  But it's still pretty funny.

Minor point: The Three Sisters is his only major play he didn't consider a comedy.  But it's still pretty funny.

More or less, yeah.  I'm thinking like the ones who target doctors at Planned Parenthood, only Russia's less interested in protecting the targets.  A running joke among Russian friends is that Putin put Pussy Riot in jail to actually save them from being physically ripped apart in the streets.  Funny!

More or less, yeah.  I'm thinking like the ones who target doctors at Planned Parenthood, only Russia's less interested in protecting the targets.  A running joke among Russian friends is that Putin put Pussy Riot in jail to actually save them from being physically ripped apart in the streets.  Funny!

The one thing that's stuck with me most in this novel, oddly enough, is Ponyboy's observation that when people are sleeping their faces relax and they look younger and more innocent.  It's a pretty great insight for a 16-year old author, and it comes near the emotional climax at the end, as Ponyboy is staring at his…

The one thing that's stuck with me most in this novel, oddly enough, is Ponyboy's observation that when people are sleeping their faces relax and they look younger and more innocent.  It's a pretty great insight for a 16-year old author, and it comes near the emotional climax at the end, as Ponyboy is staring at his…

Well, it makes some kind of twisted sense that Daniels has cited John Waters as one of his biggest inspirations.  He tends (to try) to straddle the line between Waters-esque bad taste and prestige film seriousness, without really committing to or achieving either.   But I do get what he's going for.

Well, it makes some kind of twisted sense that Daniels has cited John Waters as one of his biggest inspirations.  He tends (to try) to straddle the line between Waters-esque bad taste and prestige film seriousness, without really committing to or achieving either.   But I do get what he's going for.

Uh, no.  I understand what comic juxtaposition is.  This was poorly done.

Uh, no.  I understand what comic juxtaposition is.  This was poorly done.

I was promised a spectacular grocery store freak-out, and only got a middling grocery store fit.

I was promised a spectacular grocery store freak-out, and only got a middling grocery store fit.