But don’t worry, there’s 9 containers of Fat Free Cream Cheese to spread on it.

Exactly so.

I’m a grumpy old man, too, and Aphex Twin was irritating, nihilistic nightmare fuel back when I was in my mid-20s.

Fred is my hero, but no, the squirrel is shunned. Now and forevermore.

Oh, I was well aware at that point. She ambushed me on my way from the ocean. I am literally still upset about it 10+ years later. My daughter got the vicious little monster squirrel while starting her DS town, years later, and I bribed her with an Oreo to delete her town and start over. A fisherman never forgets.

A stupid squirrel stole my ultra-rare fish on my way to the museum. She got (mysteriously) walled in to her house, never to be allowed the comfort of fellowship ever again. She left a month later.

Oooh, good call. My library network has an extensive blu-ray collection. I’ll look into it, thanks!

I loved the lore dump of Tai-Pan, but I liked the story of Noble House, with all its twists and turns, a little better. I loved Shogun, but at this point I think I’d rather watch it than read it yet again. A little too long, and the killing of a major character (one of my favorite literary characters ever) partway…

Huh, yes you did. I stand corrected. (I got the chance to post a Kenny Loggins pic, though, so it’s still a win for me.)

I’m willing to bet it’s Frank Miller, and he thinks it’s wish fulfillment rather than a cautionary tale.

Frank was a fine actor, agreed. But The American would have been a pretty big miscast with Frank playing him (it wasn’t, I made a mistake- he was in consideration for the role, but didn’t get it).

I always forget that Grey is in Noble House, and then I get to that part and remember, “Oh yeah, this incredible asshole.” Seeing Marlowe again always makes me irrationally happy.

Is it good? Truly? I might give it a chance then... but “Comedy”? I have reservations.

Yup, he was up for it but lost out at the last moment. No way I knew that way back when, so I have no idea where I got the idea that he was The American. Anyway, “Comedy-Drama” according to IMDB, so no thanks.

See, I was creeped out by how much like Lukas Haas from “Witness” Kenny looks here. The 80s were rough for everybody, I guess.

I’ve found Tai-Pan is iffy as far as payoff for the slog, but Noble House is totally worth it, you should give it another shot.

That is a quintessential 70's haircut, heathen. Apologize!

You’re welcome, and you’re not wrong.

The one book of his I’ve never read, and hopefully never will. People I highly respect basically tore it to shreds after it came out.

I reread King Rat once a year, it’s that fucking good. Never saw the movie (Frank Sinatra? Pass.). The rest of Clavell is very, very good as well, but gets a little long-winded on rereads.