When I was in high school, there was a nude portrait of Theron in the New Yorker that seemed designed to show that that whole Monster getup was a ruse. Also, I think it was the most erotic material anywhere to be found in the house. You can put together the rest of why I have such an attachment to dear old Charlize,…

I like movies with bitchy princess-queen types. If Kate Winslet or Ms. Theron is on board, it might make up for some other indiscretions, too.

I like movies with bitchy princess-queen types. If Kate Winslet or Ms. Theron is on board, it might make up for some other indiscretions, too.

I'm having this odd blankness about this, too. I've read (I think) the majority of everything he's written, but I don't have much that's deep to say about it, just that I like it.

I'm having this odd blankness about this, too. I've read (I think) the majority of everything he's written, but I don't have much that's deep to say about it, just that I like it.

Well, with David Cross, might you simply be realizing finally what suckitude was there all along, but had only now slouched gracefully toward print?

Well, with David Cross, might you simply be realizing finally what suckitude was there all along, but had only now slouched gracefully toward print?

I seem to like Spektor on albums, but I have to avoid the interviews, lest my impression that she's actually just slow have a chance to solidify.

I seem to like Spektor on albums, but I have to avoid the interviews, lest my impression that she's actually just slow have a chance to solidify.

I don't read Vice very often, but I, like @avclub-9268b90ee8afd29ad0d12427bf27fba6:disqus, have come across good articles there. Their profile of Bret Easton Ellis was also one of the best of that author I've read.

That's OK. I'm a little surprised to find out that there's so little AV Club/VICE overlap, though. Aren't both kind of into snotty know-it-all-ism? I don't read Vice that often, so I may be missing some nuance to this enmity.

I wish I hadn't seen the scripted Ali G movie, because then I would probably agree with you re The Dictator. However, it just can't be unseen. *shakes head solemnly*

Right. These gizmos that allow me to be sure that none of the characters' safety will once be actually compromised lest Marvel's market share suffer are the very definition of "gripping". Yep. Come on. The movie was horribly dull, due to said predestination clause, and I was reduced to waiting for Iron Man's jokes for…

BAUMBAU-ZOOOOOOOOOOOONE!!!

Does anyone "love" Franzen? I've never met anyone who felt that way about the guy. I like his books, but he seems like prick, personally. DFW, on the other hand, I dig wholeheartedly.

Wait…this King guy is famous? Go on.

I hate to do this to poor Nick, but this reminds me: The Coast of Chicago, by Daddy Dybek, is one of my favorite books.

Assuming people still read book reviews.

Wolfe writes hysterically whooshy, over-the-top, wowie-zowie prose, whereas Franzen's style is white-bread restrained. Wolfe's novels are info-riffic pieces of disguised journalism, whereas Franzen's are socially constrained to his own purview. Also, Bonfire of the Vanities is a bitchin' read. I don't get the above…

On the Internet, we are all Franzen, now.