Kris’s Comments (group member since Sep 17, 2012)

Kris’s comments from the Completists' Club group.

Paul wrote: "Palliser is a weird case, I am an inordinate grovelling fan of Quincunx but i see that everyone, this means everyone, just hates all the other novels he wrote - hmm, how strange. I am in favour of any eggnog/quincunx/music-stand amalgamation, I think that just has to work beautifully. "

I agree, Paul. I think that combination could only make anything better.

Trav, I haven't forgotten about Ulysses - it's a re-read for me, and I can definitely still read it and discuss it with you. :)

Aloha wrote: "Or we can take a shot with our eggnog while attempting to read Quincunx. I intend to lay out music stands holding all the books I'm currently reading, eyeball each page at a time, do simultaneous ..."

I'm likely to have to start later than that, I think -- I have a conference presentation just after Thanksgiving, so not sure I can add Quincunx at the same time as prepping for that and getting ready for IJ, as well as reading complete drafts from my students and holding writing conferences with them. However, I could try if everyone else wants to at that point. Or I could try to develop the Aloha patented reading technique.... :)

Aloha wrote: "It's Pauliana. One's a girl and the other's a boy. Which is which?"

Gender is a continuum, rather than a binary set of oppositions, so there are lots of options....

Paul wrote: "How can an ancient Egyptian and a dancing corpse be twins?

No, don't answer that.

You can always tell us apart anyway.

He always writes like this.

Whereas I.

Don't."

OK, now I am confused - Paul? Ian? Paulian?

Aloha wrote: "Sounds good to me! You're doing Women and Men, too, Kris. We are going to have to squeeze this in somewhere. Maybe I'll do a Women The Quincunx Men. Or an infinite (Women (The Quincunx) Men) Jest."

You are so awesome. :)

Jonfaith wrote: "Shall we do the Q?"

I'd be up for it sometime...

Aloha wrote: "On the other hand, Women and Men is going for $200 each."

I'm so glad I got my paperback before the prices spiked. I think I paid $20 or so.

Aloha wrote: "You're welcome, Kris. Get them while they're a penny each used! It's great reading non-populist books, because you get the used books practically spanking new for a cheap price. Sometimes it's g..."

Agreed!!

I read Quincunx ages ago, but have been meaning to re-read it - maybe over the winter. It seems like a winter book to me.

I have to get Palliser's other books too. Thanks Aloha for the list.

I have been meaning to read the Gormenghast books for a while. That could be a fun group read.... They are sitting here, waiting patiently.

Aloha wrote: "Please send me an invite when the nose sets it up.

Stephen M wrote: "Who wants to set up the group? Nose goes! (sticks finger to tip of the nose)""

Me too, please.

Stephen M wrote: "Depending on how Women and Men goes, I might have to join this endeavor. I got mine for $20. I owe a big thanks to Mr. Nathan here for pushing me to buy it while there were still copies."

Agreed and agreed.

I aspire to Woolf completist status, but I haven't touched her letters and diaries yet, although I want to. You can be my role model, Moira.

MJ wrote: "Blue Pastoral is on the newly conceived "to-reconsider" pile."

This is a good idea -- I may need to borrow it.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: " I hope nobody ever excavates all of Gaddis's advertising work and insist that it be also canonized. "

I can see it now - a deluxe coffee table book, just in time for the holidays.

Aloha wrote: "I'll be venturing into his work in December if not sooner."

Same here, Aloha.

Nathan "N.R." wrote: "I've got myself committed. Against my will.

I just want to take this opportunity to say that Blue Pastoral was simply amazing. From the very first sentence the reader just gets pulled in and mes..."

I have longer to go, Nathan, but a number of his books, including Blue Pastoral, are ones I want to read soon. We'll see then whether I can aspire to MJ's completism.

I've read Lot 49, V, Gravity's Rainbow, and Vineland this year. Have Mason & Dixon, Inherent Vice, Against the Day, and Slow Learner waiting to be read.

I'm just following all of your threads, Mike. I've been rationing my Bolaño so I don't finish all his works too soon.