Agreed, 'tho I find Waters more sympathetic and transparent than Crisp, who's always bugged me.

Agreed, 'tho I find Waters more sympathetic and transparent than Crisp, who's always bugged me.

Well-played.

Well-played.

For what it's worth, a great entry-point for Tolstoy is his novella Hadji Murat, which I think is his best work.  It's his last longer piece of fiction, so it has the maturity of his late-period technique, but it's blessedly free of his late-period moralizing.  It's a stunning piece of work.

For what it's worth, a great entry-point for Tolstoy is his novella Hadji Murat, which I think is his best work.  It's his last longer piece of fiction, so it has the maturity of his late-period technique, but it's blessedly free of his late-period moralizing.  It's a stunning piece of work.

I'm in the minority, I think: readers tend to love it, or at least the ones I know who've read it.  It's a fun book to debate, at least, although I think it's a pale shadow of SD despite being longer and more "serious".

I'm in the minority, I think: readers tend to love it, or at least the ones I know who've read it.  It's a fun book to debate, at least, although I think it's a pale shadow of SD despite being longer and more "serious".

Agreed, although I read those two in reverse - Savage Detectives followed by Nazi Literature - and they're still my favorite of his work.

Agreed, although I read those two in reverse - Savage Detectives followed by Nazi Literature - and they're still my favorite of his work.

Favorite scene: the alligator watching the interstate.  It plays well with Herzog's general "nature doesn't care and just wants to eat you" attitude.

Favorite scene: the alligator watching the interstate.  It plays well with Herzog's general "nature doesn't care and just wants to eat you" attitude.

Here's an idea: cast Dan Harmon in Chevy Chase's role, then when Harmon-as-Pierce starts ranting about what's bugging him, the characters will dismiss Pierce as they always do, and the entire show will collapse into itself as a black hole.

Here's an idea: cast Dan Harmon in Chevy Chase's role, then when Harmon-as-Pierce starts ranting about what's bugging him, the characters will dismiss Pierce as they always do, and the entire show will collapse into itself as a black hole.

I especially appreciate how well the show can set up a joke, then run with a completely different joke instead.  I did not expect the long-lost father sketch to suddenly turn into the Marx Brothers' mirror sketch.  Cracked me up.

I especially appreciate how well the show can set up a joke, then run with a completely different joke instead.  I did not expect the long-lost father sketch to suddenly turn into the Marx Brothers' mirror sketch.  Cracked me up.

And to complete the trifecta: first lady Grace Coolidge with a raccoon.  For all you Grace Coolidge superfans out there.

And to complete the trifecta: first lady Grace Coolidge with a raccoon.  For all you Grace Coolidge superfans out there.

1. Did not make us laugh.
2. Did not make us cry.
3. Did not make us break out in joyous song.

1. Did not make us laugh.
2. Did not make us cry.
3. Did not make us break out in joyous song.