And yet you halt not.

To say that I've been a rut would be an understatement.  The chasm I currently find myself in is without equal.  Well, maybe when I was reading To the Lighthouse two summers ago would be comparable, but my progress on The Recognitions has come to a complete standstill.

It isn't that it's a bad book, it is readable, but it just isn't that gripping.  With the weather starting to turn nice, my attention seems to have moved elsewhere, and I find myself sometimes not picking up Gaddis' rather lengthy book for days at a time.  In fact I currently haven't read a page in four days.  Not a single word.

I have to admit I have been doing some other reading; a few non-fiction books that I normally consider temporary diversions, but have now become my only reading.  I suppose I just find it easier to pick up the lighter (both physically and mentally) Kitchen Confidential, than I do The Recognitions.  But of course, this cannot continue, or I'll never finish reading the remaining 46 books.

My next step, which I am about to do as soon as I am finished writing this, is to finish that "other book."  Currently that would be Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson.  I have about fifteen pages to go, and I then vow to not pick up another book until The Recognitions is complete, which might be awhile if for no other reason than I still have 350 pages to go.


Some good news, or rather some interesting news (for me anyway), is I have finally met somebody who has heard of The Sot-Weed Factor. Not only had he heard of it, he'd read it, he loved it, and he is a fan of John Barth's other works.  I was over-joyed to discuss the book with somebody else, which I have of course been unable to do, as I've never come across anybody who had even heard of it.  Unfortunately since it had been over 40 years since he had read it, his recollection wasn't as fresh as mine, but I'm hoping my enthusiasm for it, and eagerness to talk about it, was still appreciated.

Now back to my reading, and this time I'm serious.


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