Which annotated guide do you recommend?

The only reason I'm reading it in the summer is the fact that I won't
have to deal with college. I'll be able to devote my full attention to
it. Also, I'm not much of a beach person.

Me. Ulysses. This summer.

Seconded, what an incredible book.

I got used to the 18th century english after 70 pages or so. I thought M&D was much easier to read than GR because the story has a stronger center. The whole novel revolves around the titular characters and their relationship leads Pynchon to some emotional places you don't really find in his other stuff. Charles…

Have you read anything else by Pynchon? I read The Crying of Lot 49 and V before GR and I think they (V more than Lot 49) prepared me somewhat. V. has many of the same themes as GR.

The only book I read that was released this year was The Pale King. But here are some highlights of the stuff I read that wasn't released in 2011:

The Fogel section is one of greatest things he ever wrote.

I'm reading The Savage Detectives right now and I love it. 2666 is great also.

War Ass

I would imagine that the format of Random Roles is more conducive to editing than a film review, seeing as you would just have to cut a song or two.

No, Davíd Finchero.

I seem to remember that subplot taking up almost a fourth of the book. How did that not get edited out? From what I remember it had almost nothing to do with the rest of the book.

This is great. Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller) was the album that got me into Don. I had already listened to Trout Mask Replica but that album took a long time to grow on me. Now it's in my top 5 all time. Always thought this album was underrated.

Try tv duck.

Dogville is probably his best film. Antichrist and Breaking the Waves are also great but not quite on Dogville's level. 

Film reviews only started receiving grades around 2006, I believe.

Seconded. It's between Feels and Strawberry Jam. MPP is a great album but I've overplayed it. Their older albums are very much worth looking into, especially Here Comes the Indian and Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished.

No, they dislike the picture because it misrepresents them. I apologize for complete lack of clarity in the last comment.

They've actually talked in interviews about how they hate that specific picture since it's the one many websites use.